Ordinary Time

Pause

For something to be revealed, something has to first be unseen. It could be hidden, unnoticed, or camouflaged. When what was unseen is then revealed, we often react. Fear, awe, surprise, delight. Our emotions respond.

Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see what you would have us see. Let us see with the eyes of Christ, and let us respond with a spirit of faith.

Listen

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two covenant tablets in his hand, Moses didn’t realize that the skin of his face shone brightly because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw the skin of Moses’ face shining brightly, they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called them closer. So Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke with them. After that, all the Israelites came near as well, and Moses commanded them everything that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

Exodus 24:29-33

Think

Once when I was in college, I had a positive and very personal, life-changing event happen. Then just thirty minutes later, I bumped into a friend. He looked at me with a quizzical expression and said, “What happened to you? You’re glowing!” No words. Still in the moment. Those who know us well just, well, know.

Moses came down from the mountain having had one of these moments of profound change, unquestioned beauty, and unspeakable holiness. Scripture says he glowed. They did not know what had been revealed to their leader — something had transformed Moses. Change can be scary to some, and “they were afraid to come near.” Moses saw this and calmed them by being very clear and sharing what God had said for them all to hear.

When we encounter the holy, embrace the miracle, for what God has chosen to reveal to us. This alone makes us special beyond belief, regardless of the message we are to receive.

Rock Higgins

Pray

Lord, open me to what you would reveal. Prepare me to hear, believe, and enact this special gift you have chosen for me to receive. Thank you for revealing this to me. Amen.

Go

Open our eyes, Lord, and let us see what you would have us see. Let us see with the eyes of Christ, and let us respond with a spirit of faith.