Today’s reading is another triumph of selectivity.

1 Thes 5:1-6, 9-11 is the menu for first reading. Why not verses 7 & 8? Is there something subversive there? Something offensive to pious ears? Improper? Distracting? Peculiarly first century and misleading if read to weekday mass goers?

Let’s have a look.

7Those who sleep go to sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation.e

Well. The point is to be of the day.

5For all of you are children of the light* and children of the day.

Yes. That’s settled.

But the skipped-over part, as in getting drunk at night. That’s a reference that would make pewsitters sit up. It’s good, earthy talk, direct, which is good.

Let us be sober — take it several ways. One is not to be silly. Or foolish. Not act like damn fools if we can help it. Don’t be a jerk, taking on the breastplate of love and the helmet that is hope. Again plain talk and vivid.

Do the liturgical editors shrink from that? Do they think pewsitters shrink from it? I say put it out there. But what do I know?