Saturday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

This is where a log rolled out from under me
and I broke a rib last month!
That mean old log! 

As we prepare for the new translation of our Mass prayers next year, it is good to hear Saint Paul’s long sentence in this reading. Apparently his Greek speaking readers and hearers enjoyed very long sentences. They could grasp more complex phrases, retaining the first part of each sentence even as it wound its way lazily toward the end. 

Today's English readers prefer short sentences -- things we can text or fit on a bumper sticker. The new translation of our Latin prayers will have some breath-taking sentences, real challenges for short-winded priests.

Saint Paul runs on so long in this passage from the Ephesians because he is so excited by his love of the Lord. This excitement stimulates a torrent of words and he can barely channel that tsunami of images, ideas and insights into coherent sentences. In this letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul considers the torrent of graces which Christians enjoy. How could such a plethora of blessings be described without a spate of words?

First he describes his excitement as he says, “I do not cease giving thanks for you, remembering you in all my prayers.” Saint Paul’s consummate affection for people stands out among his many endearing qualities. Whatever his bad qualities he cared intensely about his friends. No matter how weary, sick or beaten he was, when he thought of them  he was cheered. He wanted them to know God as he knew him, to be open to the revelation which God effected through his preaching. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul reminded his readers how they had practically seen a vision of Christ crucified as he spoke to them.

Then he launches into his long sentence (102 words) and, of course, it’s a blessing for his dear people. He wants them to see as clearly as he does the reason for hope, the riches of God’s glory and the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe. (So far that sentence I could diagram.) Then he launches into a set of sub-clauses which add to his last clause: in accord with the exercise of his great might,which he worked in Christ; and from there into more words praising Jesus Christ.

Saint Paul is a gushing fountain of God’s praises. His words well up in him with artesian force; he is a geyser of song, poetry, prayer, dance and emotion in love of God. As we try to figure out what he is saying with all these words we should first understand he is on fire with the Holy Spirit. If we stand close enough to him and stay long enough, we too will catch fire.