The Second Lesson

Good morning.

Sometimes the lessons at church seem specifically to speak to one, do they not?  I wrote yesterday about the OT lesson, from Proverbs.  It was written for ME.

Today, I'll put in a bit about the second lesson, which is always an Epistle of St Paul (our Patron of the Cathedral.)

It was an Epistle to the Ephesians, and it's short, so I can put in the whole thing:

Ephesians 5: 15-20

Be careful how you live, not as unwise people, but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs amongst yourselves,
singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times
and for everything in the name  of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is too preachy, but he knew how to put a sentence together and in this case, did he not speak directly to ME after my desire of yesterday is re-read?  He is telling me to get busy and do it NOW.  It's too direct to be a coincidence.  Or maybe the people who put the Prayer Book together were very very aware of human nature and human conduct and the tendency to wait for tomorrow, and they put those two readings together because every aware reader will immediately see himself or herself in them.

In the third reading of yesterday, the Gospel according to John 6:51-58, Jesus himself is speaking about being the bread of life.  I won't tackle that one.  It is deep, more deep than I am ready to dive right at this moment.  But that moment will arrive in God's own time.  YAZZYBEL