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Lenten Season · Fourth Sunday of Lent · Year A

Ephesians 5:8-14

Children of Light

March 15, 2026

The Baptism of the Neophytes, Masaccio
The Baptism of the Neophytes, Masaccio, about 1425Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence
Peter tips the bowl over a man kneeling in the stream with his hands together, while behind him one convert stands stripped and shivering with his arms crossed and the rest wait their turn under bare grey hills.Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light. Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.MasaccioMasaccio, dead at twenty-six, who was the first to paint people standing in real light with real weight.Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, FlorenceThe Brancacci Chapel in Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence.Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine, Florence
Roman Lectionary
GospelJohn 9:1-41Jn 9:1-41 orJohn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38Jn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38Alt. GospelIf Second Scrutiny of the Elect: John 9:1-41If Second Scrutiny of the Elect: Jn 9:1-41 orJohn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38Jn 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
Second ReadingEph. 5:8-14Eph 5:8-14Alt. 2nd ReadingIf Second Scrutiny of the Elect: Ephesians 5:8-14If Second Scrutiny of the Elect: Eph 5:8-14
First Reading1 Sam. 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aAlt. 1st ReadingIf Second Scrutiny of the Elect: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aIf Second Scrutiny of the Elect: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
Responsorial PsalmPs. 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (1)Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 (1)Alt. PsalmIf Second Scrutiny of the Elect: Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, (1)If Second Scrutiny of the Elect: Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, (1)

Overview & Insights

"Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light." (Ephesians 5:8)

Paul reminds the Ephesians that their old identity as darkness has been replaced by light in Christ, and calls them to expose rather than share in the unfruitful works of darkness. The passage closes with a fragment of an early Christian hymn, likely sung at baptism, calling the sleeper to wake and rise.

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Take it further: Ephesians 5:8-14

Commentary

Commentary on Ephesians 5:8-14Commentary on Eph 5:8-14 Working Preacher

Identifies the passage as an identity reminder followed by an ethical call to live out that new light.

Ephesians 5:8-14 CommentaryEph 5:8-14 Commentary CEP (Center for Excellence in Preaching)

Situates the light and darkness language within the household ethics section of the letter.

Ephesians 5 CommentaryEph 5 Commentary Enduring Word

Explains the call to expose the works of darkness rather than merely avoid them.

Ephesians 5:7-8 CommentaryEph 5:7-8 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse by verse word studies on the shift from darkness to light that opens this lection.

Ephesians 5:8 CommentariesEph 5:8 Commentaries BibleHub

Gathers classic commentators on the phrase light in the Lord for quick comparison.

Ephesians 5 CommentaryEph 5 Commentary StudyLight (Barnes)

Plain historical notes on Paul's ethical instructions to the Ephesian church.

Background & Word Study

Ephesians 5:8 InterlinearEph 5:8 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text word by word for the phos (light) and skotos (darkness) contrast.

Book of Ephesians OverviewBook of Eph Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Ephesians' structure that locates chapter 5 in the letter's ethical second half.

Church Fathers

Ephesians 5 CatenaEph 5 Catena Catena

Patristic comments on the darkness to light passage collected verse by verse.

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