0806 Reflection -- Exodus 34:29-35

Upcoming Sunday Old Testament Readings

The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Sunday 6 August 2017

Exodus 34:29-35

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––

We hear this reading on the Feast of the Transfiguration for the simple fact that it shows Moses in a transfigured moment.  Moses has been on the Mountain of God in conversation with God.  That encounter changes Moses.  When he comes down to the people, it is clear that he has been changed.  The people take notice, and they are filled with fear.  As Christians, we should be changed by our encounters with God.  It should be clear that we stand apart, that we have been consecrated to God, set apart for the sake of the world.  Only we should not veil that presence, as did Moses.  We bear that presence in the world to bring Christ to the world, or rather to point to his presence, for he is already in the midst of the world seeking to draw the world into the Kingdom of God.  This of course also means that we should act as ones who have been set apart.  Recently I heard a story of a driver who encountered a car on the highway with a bumper sticker that read: “Honk if you love Jesus.”  He did honk.  And when he did, the woman driving that car raised her middle finger in his direction.  That certainly does not speak well of one who has associated themselves with Christ.

––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––   ––––––––––––

Father Timothy Alleman