Even if you were not in church you can still participate in our exercise. Simply think about (better yet, write down on a piece of paper) something that you would like to have revealed to you this year.
Throughout the year, pray and meditate on this. Some people would say visualize it being so. And while you are at it, stick in a prayer for the rest of us that what we wish to have revealed to us is. But don’t be surprised if you don’t get what you want how you want it: be open-minded and look for messages in ways you never imagined.

Readings for today:
Exodus 34:29 - 35
2 Cor 3:12 - 4:2
Luke 9:28-36
Psalm 99

Revealing something that was once veiled (hidden)
The transfiguration of Jesus.

In this week’s readings we have a very clear theme: veils, mountains, shiny faces and messages from God are all repeated themes. I especially like that the messages from God are so obvious. In Exodus, Moses comes down the mountain with a shiny face behind a veil carrying two huge tablets with commandments written on them. In the gospel, Jesus, Peter, James and John go up a mountain to pray and at some point during the middle of the night, Jesus is in a cloud with Moses and Elijah and God’s voice appears revealing that Jesus is God’s chosen son. Easy messages. I also like that the stories are so easy to follow. People go on retreat in mountains. God makes appearance. God shares message and wisdom. People are forever changed.

I also like that the stories are the same, but different. Through the transfiguration of Jesus, we learn that God still reveals truths to those who are ready to receive them. In other words, the visit to Moses was not the last. (In fact, we can obviously think of other times written down in the Bible where God revealed a message to folks since Moses.) But thank goodness, right? That means that we don’t have to sit here waiting for someone to come through the front door carrying 2 huge stone tablets — which they carved themselves — with commandments written on them in God’s own hand. Peter, James and John also received a message from God (albeit in Jesus’ presence) that was delivered by voice.

Man, this Moses, Peter, James and John: they’re so cool and it was so easy for those guys back then. This is going to sound very kindergarten, but when do I get my message? Note that this is the precursor to Barbara’s message last week, which was about becoming a spokesperson for God. Well, first you have to have a message to share. I don’t know why they gave us the verses out of order.

But in order to find out how and when I can get a message, I need to be able to understand the lessons from the stories. Thank goodness for Paul, who spells it out in case the stories alone weren’t enough for me to get it. So I get it: the veil is a metaphor. Something is hidden. What is hidden? Something needs to be uncovered. How does it become revealed?

So there are many lessons to learn here. Some of them I may be able to tell you, but most of them you will have to think about yourselves during and after this sermon because hopefully the thinking on this subject doesn't end when I stop talking. But here are just a few things that I think were worth noting.

First, I think it’s important to point out that blocking out the world around you and creating a space for meditation and quiet were key. God even gave Moses specific instructions to make sure no one else was around when he came to visit, not even to allow shepherd to be near so as not to have some stray lamb come running over right as the tablets were being engraved. It sort of ruins a moment.

I also think we can’t ignore the fact that the people who received the messages were not the intended recipients. They were only receiving a message that was intended for a wider audience.

But God knew the wider audience was not ready for the whole message at once, and it got delivered piecemeal. This is sort of inferred by the fact that Moses needed to shield (veil) his face from the people in between visits with God. Peter, James and John were likewise instructed not to pass along the message until the appointed time. So receiving the message and sharing the message can happen at different times.

Finally, a humble attempt at unpacking the message, which I feel actually is the same in both cases. Moses’ commandments come out sounding pretty harsh, but compared to the number of laws later created out of those commandments, 10 is nothing! And while the commandments are written in the negative, they could also be interpreted as quite positive. The 10 commandments are about loving everybody and taking a day off! Your only restriction is in inhibiting your family and friends from totally enjoying life, but likewise they are prohibited from keeping you from enjoying yours. So just love and honor everybody! But it somehow got distorted and we needed a new message. I say “we” but I guess I mean the people 2,000+ years ago. So God sent another message, really you could say God sent a messenger. And in this case, the message was meant to be so complete it took years to be developed, and in the final days the people who were to take that message to next generations were given more explicit instructions and information, as well as power to get that message across. This message is revealed to us when the veil over our mind is lifted. This time, the barrier between us and the message is not a physical veil covering Moses’ face, it is an imagined barrier that we ourselves create in order to block out a message we are not ready to hear.

This message, which some people call the Good News, is available to those who lift the veil and expose their minds to the brightest vision ever.

After thinking about these readings I dare say I have begun to imagine that God has not sent us our final message yet. By that I mean I think there is something after Jesus. Moses, Elijah, Jesus…and then, who knows? I would like to think we are getting better at getting it, but I hesitate to say we’ve got it. And unless I start to believe in a God that is not loving and compassionate, I have to believe that we will continue to receive pertinent messages for our time.

May something be revealed to you in this year.
May something be revealed through you in this year.

May God’s light always be evident in us to others.

AMEN.