Ordinary Time
February 21, 2022
Scripture Reading: 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. Afterwards 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.
The Hebrew word translated shining is from a primitive root; to push or gore; used only as denominative [give a name] from qeren, to shoot out horns; figuratively, rays — have horns, shine*. You may have seen ancient paintings or statues where Moses is portrayed with horns. I envision something like the rays of the rising sun appearing in the sky. Could the tongues of fire in Acts 2 describing the coming of the Holy Spirit be similar? How does one name or illustrate something indescribable? The witnesses seem to innately know they were seeing something holy, something that set Moses apart, something validating his relationship with God.
How do we understand our relationship with God in this modern era where unexplained phenomenon becomes the subject of scientific research until we can explain it completely? God created us with curiosity. Perhaps such exploration brings us closer to God if we let it. Shakespeare puts it this way in Hamlet, “And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
The scripture above describes a turning point in the Israelites escape from Egypt. They had been wandering in the wilderness long enough to stop and take stalk of who they were and what their next steps would be. The two tablets Moses carried down the mountain contained the new rules that would lead them into becoming a society preparing them for the next phase of their life out of bondage and into taking responsibility for their behavior. We, too, are amid a transition from a world overcome by a pandemic where all are trying to understand where we are and what we are to do next. We, too, need to be reminded that we serve a mighty God that is willing to show us the way if we are ready to turn to the One who can light our path.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us for growing so weary of struggling with pandemics and threats of war, and false gods. Lead us to the brighter tomorrow that you desire for all your children. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7160.htm
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 America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.