In
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today,
you gathered here today have, as they say, “cleaned up good.” You
showered and washed, shaved and scrubbed. You primped and plucked.
You had your hair cut and your nails done. You dressed yourself in
beautiful finery, and decorated yourself with make-up and jewelry.
All this in an effort to be the best you can be for each other. Who
would not want to present himself at the best and brightest and most
wonderful for his bride?
But
what about the inside? Is the inside as clean and polished and
beautiful as the outside? Left to your own devices, the answer would
be no. In the verses preceding our epistle lesson, the apostle gives
an account of what the heart of man is like. St. Paul instructs,
Put
to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality,
impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once
walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all
away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your
mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the
old self with its practices.
