e-vo for week of February 6

Dearest e-votees-

Jesus came to tear down the divisions between us and God.

The truth has come and is coming to bear in our lives.

Thanks be to God.

Peace,
Karl

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12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. 14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 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.

1 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, NRSV

Jesus came to destroy those things that separate us from God.

At his baptism the heavens were torn open and that voice called out “This is my Son, the beloved.” The skies could not separate us from God.

At his transfiguration space and time were torn open and Elijah (the Prophet) and Moses (the Law) were finding fulfillment in Christ. The years and the missteps of the people could not separate us from God.

In his ministry Jesus tore apart the cultural divisions between male and female, Jew and gentile, leprous and clean, self-righteous and sinful, etc., etc. Our bigotries and broken practices could not separate us from God.

On the cross Jesus tore apart the power of death and the kingdom of this world. He offered forgiveness and healing in the midst of his condemnation and death. Our hostility and perverted justice could not separate us from God.

As Jesus breathed his last the curtain in the Temple was torn apart. The separation between the Holy and the Most Holy Place; between the place of man and the place of God; between fear and the presence of a fiery God were removed. Our rituals and our misgivings could not separate us from God.

Jesus has lifted the veil and we can see and be seen plainly. Pretense is disarmed. We are made free. In that freedom God can use us to break down the barriers between others and God through Jesus. We should let nothing separate others from God. That is what our Lord did. That is the work we are called to continue.


God, tear open our apathetic hearts—give us a passion for you. Tear open the obstacles and walls we put between ourselves and others—give us a heart for the other. Tear open all our masks and costumes—give us our true selves that we might truly serve you. Amen.