Dear e-votees-
This coming Sunday is the one where we remember the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top where Elijah and Moses appeared with Peter, James and John as witnesses. This brings the season of Epiphany to an end.
Next Wednesday Lent begins with the imposition of Ashes. May your remaining time in the season of Epiphany be blessed and your Lenten worship draw you more deeply into the saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Karl
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And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6, NRSV
The word that gets rendered “veiled” is interesting. It shows up 8 times in the New Testament. It shows up twice in our text above.
In Matthew 8:24 the boat that Jesus and the disciples are in are being “covered” by the waves.
In Matthew 10:26 Jesus says that nothing is “covered up” that won’t be revealed (in reference to the wolves who are persecuting the church in the preceding verses).
In Luke 23:30 Jesus speaking of the dark times to come says that people will be pleading for the hills to “cover us” (see Hosea 10:8 as well) to put them out of their misery.
In Luke 8:16 Jesus talks about not “hiding” your light under a jar or under a bed but letting it shine for all to see.
In James 5:20 the encouragement is given to turn a sinner from his ways which will save him and “cover over” a multitude of sins.
In 1 Peter 4:8 the hearers are encouraged to love one another deeply which will “cover” a multitude of sins.
There is a darkness. This darkness can seem to enfold us. It might block our understanding of the truth. It may seem like we are drowning in the waves that buffet us. We may get to points of despair wishing it would all end no matter what the cost. That is the reality of our broken natures and our sin-induced separation from God.
There is good news that is testified about in our epistle reading for Sunday. There is a light that shines into the darkness. We are called to bear that light out into a darkened world. As we reach out with the light of the gospel people can and will change. The gospel can cover over the sins of their life. As we grow in godly love for one another the sins of our broken natures and sins can be forgiven and covered.
Jesus Christ has come into the world. He is the light which has not been overcome by the darkness. Jesus shines still in this world. That is the point of Epiphany. Jesus is still being revealed into the world. Sometimes, often, we choose to abide in our fallen and darkened state. Lent is, in part, about being mindful of our state without God’s grace and the salvation that was worked on the cross. As we linger near the darkness we are reminded of how important and healing the light is.
God, help us know that nothing has covered us that cannot be burned away by the glorious, gracious and radiant light of your love. Help us to let our lights so shine before others that they may see our good works and glorify you—our Father in heaven (baptismal charge from Matthew 5:16). Amen.
This coming Sunday is the one where we remember the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top where Elijah and Moses appeared with Peter, James and John as witnesses. This brings the season of Epiphany to an end.
Next Wednesday Lent begins with the imposition of Ashes. May your remaining time in the season of Epiphany be blessed and your Lenten worship draw you more deeply into the saving knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peace,
Karl
------------
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
The word that gets rendered “veiled” is interesting. It shows up 8 times in the New Testament. It shows up twice in our text above.
In Matthew 8:24 the boat that Jesus and the disciples are in are being “covered” by the waves.
In Matthew 10:26 Jesus says that nothing is “covered up” that won’t be revealed (in reference to the wolves who are persecuting the church in the preceding verses).
In Luke 23:30 Jesus speaking of the dark times to come says that people will be pleading for the hills to “cover us” (see Hosea 10:8 as well) to put them out of their misery.
In Luke 8:16 Jesus talks about not “hiding” your light under a jar or under a bed but letting it shine for all to see.
In James 5:20 the encouragement is given to turn a sinner from his ways which will save him and “cover over” a multitude of sins.
In 1 Peter 4:8 the hearers are encouraged to love one another deeply which will “cover” a multitude of sins.
There is a darkness. This darkness can seem to enfold us. It might block our understanding of the truth. It may seem like we are drowning in the waves that buffet us. We may get to points of despair wishing it would all end no matter what the cost. That is the reality of our broken natures and our sin-induced separation from God.
There is good news that is testified about in our epistle reading for Sunday. There is a light that shines into the darkness. We are called to bear that light out into a darkened world. As we reach out with the light of the gospel people can and will change. The gospel can cover over the sins of their life. As we grow in godly love for one another the sins of our broken natures and sins can be forgiven and covered.
Jesus Christ has come into the world. He is the light which has not been overcome by the darkness. Jesus shines still in this world. That is the point of Epiphany. Jesus is still being revealed into the world. Sometimes, often, we choose to abide in our fallen and darkened state. Lent is, in part, about being mindful of our state without God’s grace and the salvation that was worked on the cross. As we linger near the darkness we are reminded of how important and healing the light is.
God, help us know that nothing has covered us that cannot be burned away by the glorious, gracious and radiant light of your love. Help us to let our lights so shine before others that they may see our good works and glorify you—our Father in heaven (baptismal charge from Matthew 5:16). Amen.
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