Theme: Waking from darkness, walking in light

Exegetical note
This passage was probably a part of catechetical instructions for baptisands in the primitive Church; hence, the sharp contrasts (e.g. "once ... darkness, now ... light"), which may echo some dualistic cosmologies that were current (e.g., Zoroastrianism's). But Paul's message is clearly Christocentric: like the rising morning Sun, the Christ shines on those sleeping in darkness (i.e., death!) and makes them children of light, who should "walk" (i…