Epiphany
January 4, 2016

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. –2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Do we see the reflection of God when we look into the mirrors of our souls? Apparently Moses did in his mountaintop experience although the Israelites in general apparently were not ready to see God’s glory. Paul is saying that through the gift of the Spirit we too are to see the reflection of God in us as we see our faces in a mirror. Are we ready to see that? What of God do we see when we gaze in our soul’s mirror?

Paul raises this issue in the context of the transformations of our lives as we grow in Christ’s likeness. Even Paul earlier in 1 Corinthians 13:12 says that we do not see that vision fully:   For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. I think Paul is saying her that it is important that we keep looking, keep holding ourselves up to the light of Christ, and continue to clean our filters of the clutter just living life can sometimes clog.

Spiritual maintenance is very much like both physical and mental maintenance. The holiday season and a nasty cold that would not let go has left me out of shape. I tried to eat healthily and return to exercise as soon as I could move without coughing but I still have some catching up to do. During this time, I also found myself watching more and less-meaningful TV, feeling sorry for myself, and being generally grumpy. I am doing some attitude adjustments now to return to a better state of mind. Similarly, we must take responsibility for not only our spiritual growth but also our spiritual maintenance.

Prayer: Lord, transform me until I see you more clearly when I gaze into the mirror of my soul. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.