Take Away The Veil!!!

Reflection:  When Moses met God face to face, he wore a veil to protect the Israelites from seeing the glory of the Lord which shone on his face. He knew it was too much for them to handle.  But it was also a metaphor to show that the Israelites were separated from God and could only come into His presence through the terms of the Old Covenant, with its prescription for the right sacrifices and atonement for sin.  Only the Most High Priest could go into the temple once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to be in God’s presence and make atonement for the sins of the people.  This was what the Israelites knew and Paul speaks to them out of this frame of reference. 

But Paul had this veil removed when he met the Lord on the Road to Damascus.  He met the Lord face to face when Jesus said to him, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me!”  From this point on, the veil had been removed and Saul, later named Paul after his conversion, spent the rest of his life trying to share this mystery of the Gospel with others.  And what he resolves to do is to clearly preach the Gospel, and not use any types of tricks or secrets.  Sometimes when people have a profound experience of God, they try to keep a hold of it as their own special relationship with God that no one else can have or experience. But Paul does quite the opposite!

Paul makes it clear that there is really nothing special about him other than that he had received the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and now was going to make that plain to everyone else he had a chance to witness to.  He knew that some would still not get what he was talking about, but he didn’t take responsibility for the results of who would believe or not believe. His sole focus was on making it as clear as possible what Jesus had done for us, so that people’s faith would rest on God, and the Good News not him! 

Notice as well, the benefits of receiving the Gospel and receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, which unbound Paul from his presuppositions.  The Spirit Paul received was a Spirit of freedom, not slavery.  The Spirit led him to do many wonderful things in its power, and it was the Spirit that transformed his character to look more and more like Jesus.  So we see that our relationship with God in Christ, through faith, starts with the Holy Spirit’s making known to us God’s love for us, and it is the Spirit that changes us little by little each day as we submit to His work in our lives.  We can often make things complicated, but what I love about Paul is that he keeps it very simple and relies on God’s grace and the Spirit’s power. 

How can this truth help you to experience God and take away the veil?  Is there still a veil up in your life?  Have you accepted God’s gift of grace in Christ Jesus, and received the gift of the Holy Spirit?  And if you have, are you allowing God’s Spirit to lead you in a sense of freedom to do what He wants to do in your life?  This is the Good News for today and every day! 

Psalm 69:13-21

¹³ But I pray to you, Lord,
    in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
    answer me with your sure salvation.
¹⁴ Rescue me from the mire,
    do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
    from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
    in your great mercy turn to me.
¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant;
    answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
¹⁸ Come near and rescue me;
    deliver me because of my foes.

¹⁹ You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed;
    all my enemies are before you.
²⁰ Scorn has broken my heart
    and has left me helpless;
I looked for sympathy, but there was none,
    for comforters, but I found none.
²¹ They put gall in my food
    and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

Proverbs 20

20 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool is quick to quarrel.

⁴ Sluggards do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
    but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶ Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;
    blessed are their children after them.

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
    I am clean and without sin”?

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure and upright?

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

²⁰ If someone curses their father or mother,
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.

²⁴ A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
    How then can anyone understand their own way?

²⁵ It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love his throne is made secure.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.

³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
    and beatings purge the inmost being.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. ¹³ We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Psalm 19:12

When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy. Titus 3:4-5

Almighty God, you know us completely. We all sin and fall short of your glory, but Christ’s death saves us from the punishment we deserve. Keep us strong and sure in a world of sin and strife. We ask this trusting in your divine mercy. Amen.