Dear Family in Faith,

This Sunday, in what would appear to be an ironic twist of fate, we will read a Bible story about Moses putting on a kind of “face mask” in the presence of God’s people—on the very Sunday, that after two years of an un-holy COVID pall over us, WE are beginning to take our masks off! 

Our Session has decided that--coinciding with changes in positivity rates, case counts, and the downward trends in COVID infection, as well as practices in businesses and other houses of worship-- this is the season to adapt our mask policy.  Starting this week, come to worship, please observe social distance, wearing masks will be optional, at your personal discretion.  And those who wear masks are likely doing so because they love you, and don’t want any harm to come to you—however slim the chance may seem.

When Moses dons a veil, it is because his shining face is the sign that Moses has been talking to God and has particular words for God’s people.  Moses’s face, lit up like a light bulb, is the evidence that Moses is taking words directly from God’s mouth to the people’s ears.  Another irony is that, because Moses’s appearance was so changed because Moses had been talking with God, the people were afraid! 

Do you ever wonder why people were afraid when Moses had been talking with God?  Or, do you ever recognize that everyone who truly encounters God is *changed* by that experience? 

But if we believe God truly loves us—of what is there to be afraid? 

Oh. Right. Of course.  The answer is always in the riddle: “How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?”  

Change?

The Israelites knew that, when Moses had been talking with God, Moses was changed.  They could *see* it.  I suppose, even though the word Moses brought was the life-giving covenant, rather than feeling “loved” God’s people felt scolded?  Rather than a pathway to life—abundant life—is it really the case that any “rules” feel oppressive?  Do we all drive past the speed limit sign, give it the middle finger and set the cruise for 5 miles per hour over because any limit must be bad news?  No.  We set the cruise control 5 miles per hour more because we believe it’s reasonable, that it’s not so excessive that we should get a ticket, even though we’re well aware we’re violating the letter of the law.  “Well, Officer, my speedometer must be a few mph’s off; I don’t speed.” 

And yet, the astonishing thing to me is that anyone who has been in the real presence of Almighty God or who receives God’s words or messages—is changed.  Any person who has been in the real presence of God—changes.  Yet, we all seem to have this expectation that our relationship with God doesn’t have to CHANGE us—we can talk to God and nothing has to change.  We can read the Bible and our life can proceed as normal.  The meek don’t have to inherit the earth, the rich get to buy their way into heaven, and loving our enemies is optional.  We can “love God” and still act as if it doesn’t require any transformation. 

It's as if we want to see God—but it won’t matter at all if we do.  And things can still be the same, whether we see God or not.  But in the Bible, this simply isn’t true.  See God?  You’re changed.  And people can see it on you! 

Can you name a story in the Bible where a character *sees* God and nothing changes about them? 

Yet, somehow, we all would like to *see* God and not be changed by it. 

I believe God is changing the world.  I believe that God is changing us.  I believe that happens because we truly *see God* in ways that are sometimes mysterious, sometimes challenging, sometimes hard to perceive or understand.  Nonetheless, when we see what God is up to, when we can grasp anything God is doing  . . . We. Are. Changed.  It is visible on us, in us, and through us.  We can see it in each other’s faces—if for no other reason that we are made in God’s image (each of us) and therefore, we are each a window of God’s love and intention.  Or, do we not want to trust scripture’s truth? 

Our masks have made it harder to *see* one another and God in each other—yes?  It will be special to *see* one another “uncovered” again.  Let’s be honest, many of us have already been able to do it in other places, too.  But don’t think for a moment that seeing our faces is “business as usual.”  It’s extraordinary!  We bear the image of God for each other, we each are the reminder of the Creator.  And the world should see it on us.

Jesus loves us.  This story can change the world, because it changes us.  When we catch people up and can love them, because God loves them, we change the world.  ”See you” in Church.