Act Boldly

Today we see an example of how Paul used the Old Testament scriptures in his letters. We get this opportunity because we read the Exodus account of Moses when he came down from Mt. Sinai in contrast to the transfiguration of Jesus. Paul contrasts the difference between the giving of the Law because of the hardness of the people’s minds and the faith given by Jesus. Although Paul changes the meaning of the Exodus passage. Exodus tells us that Moses wore the veil because the glory of God shone from his face and it frightened the people. Paul tells us that he wore the veil because the glory of God faded from his face, implying that the Israelites were afraid it meant that God was abandoning them. Paul does not dwell on this thought, instead, he quickly switches from talking about the veil over Moses’ face to a veil over the Israelite’s minds. That veil prevented them from truly seeing God and following God’s Law. It is only in Christ that that veil is removed.

That veil is what held us in bondage to sin and death. It also prevented us from being who God called us to be. But now, that the veil is removed, we are free from those things that have bound us in the past. Here is true freedom. It is not a freedom to do anything that we want. It is the freedom from the fear of abandonment and death. Therefore, we are freed to act boldly as Paul calls us to do at the beginning of our text from Second Corinthians. This means that we renounce our shameful things, refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word. Instead by open statements of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone by extolling Jesus.

Unlike Moses or Peter, James, and John, we are not on a mountain top with God, instead, we are on the plain with the rest of the disciples trying to help those in need. That is our call – to act boldly. We also note that the disciples were having a bit of trouble healing this person. They needed Jesus’ help. That is the same with us. We are unable to help those in need without Jesus. 

So then, what is your task? I am not asking a new question that I have not asked you before. Maybe it is the same question I have asked you each and every time we gather. What is God calling you to do? Today is Transfiguration Sunday. While other denominations celebrate the Transfiguration on another day, we celebrate it on the Sunday before Lent starts. While it is great to be on a high with God, it is not our place to be. We are to walk with Jesus to the cross. During that journey we are called to look at our lives in comparison to Jesus. Seeing the gulf between what we say and do and what God desires of us, we spend these next weeks in prayer, repentance, and helping the poor. 

Use the coming weeks to review what you have done with the freedom that Christ has given you by his life, death, and resurrection. Prayerfully ask forgiveness and the strength to boldly carry out the task that you have been given so others will see behind the veil that is cast over their minds and join us in God’s freedom around the salvation of Christ.