( Exodus 34:29-35 ) - [ Deutsch ] - [ Announcements473.75 KB ]
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.
30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
31 But Moses called to them; so, Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them.
32 Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai.
33 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face.
34 But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,
35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
Dear congregation, it is the last Sunday after Epiphany. According to the church calendar the light of Christmas comes to an end today. For some it might feel as if Christmas is long gone. And I assume everyone has packed away his Christmas tree, the glittering balls, the star at the top and the string of lights. And the nativity scene.
Christmas was different for me this year, unique. Plenty of time… but no church. Because we were all sick. But we were able to celebrate, and the church services we watched online brought some of the Christmas atmosphere into our house.
We were able to see what happens every year on Christmas Eve: the eyes of children and adults shining brightly because their faces reflect the light from the candles and the manger. When people celebrate Christmas, they encounter God, and His glory is reflected in their faces.
This radiance lights up the faces of both young and old like gold dust. A warm glow, starting from within, becoming glaringly bright perhaps. And the radiance may last for a few hours, days... maybe weeks.
Moses’ face was full of splendor when he descended from Mount Sinai. He came back filled completely with the encounter he had had with God, wearing the radiance of God's countenance as a luster on his own weather-beaten skin over dust and sweat.
Moses was holding the word of God, the 10 commandments in his hands. They were to become a light in the everyday life of God's people. Moses was filled with what had happened to him. But he quickly realized that in the actual world, the people who had been following him for many years, are suddenly perceiving him differently. They are terrified at the glow on Moses' face. They lower their gaze. They sense that something special has happened to him. Something is being brought to them from God. This scares them. God in their midst? Then things can't stay the way they are. Things will change. Some things will have to change. Do they want that? That God's light penetrates their gray everyday life? Lighting up their world right into the furthest corner? God's light and his word determining their thoughts and actions?
Moses quickly realizes that the reflection of God on his face is too much for his people. They are afraid of it. He must first encourage them to approach him without fear. He says, I have words from God for you. I want to share with you my encounter with God.
The radiance of Moses' face – reflected in people’s bright eyes on Christmas Eve.
Just like moments when you feel some of God's light penetrating your life.
They are precious and rare. Perhaps they are so precious precisely because they are rare. And you can't give these moments to yourself.
Moments when you are close to God... Perhaps you have experienced such a moment ...
When you can finally stand by the sea again in the evening, and the light of the setting sun is reflected in your eyes.
When you hold your child or grandchild in your arms for the first time, overcome with gratitude.
When just before wanting to overtake on the freeway, you see in a flash the vehicle coming from behind and you swerve back into your lane and think: Thank God!
A moment when something in your life changes completely because you realize: God has looked at you, has blessed you. And is pouring his blessings on your gray everyday life like gold dust on your clothes. On marriage problems, or sleepless nights because of teething children. On the emotional confusion of puberty. On your everyday life, where you must get from A to B quickly and keep going.
Moses tells the women and men around him what God told him. He tells them about the 10 commandments and that God means well with all of them. Moses brings God to the people. He brings God's radiance on his own face into their world.
I remember a Christmas service a few years ago when I sprinkled gold glitter on the congregants. The glitter brought the message of God becoming flesh to faces, hair, coats, and hands. And the people took the glittering shine home with them.
And the message too. The glitter was stubborn, some people still trying to brush it off their clothes or purses weeks later, remembering that moment of sparkle on Christmas Eve. And how good it felt.
When Moses spoke to the people, he covered his face with a veil. As if he wanted to preserve what was left of God’s radiance. Keeping his meeting with God covered and protected in his heart until his next encounter with Him. Preserve the splendor of His glory. And the experience: God is part of my life and means well.
This is important for you and me, too. Because – as I said – these experiences of God are rare and precious. Sometimes we need to remember them for a long time. How can we preserve this light, this experience of God's closeness to us?
Perhaps you are someone who likes to share these experiences with others.
Or you prefer silence and prayer and choose your own special place.
Or you note your experience with God, this special moment, with a few words in your journal.
Or you take a star out of your box with all the Christmas decorations and hang it up in your house where it is clearly visible. And maybe touch it now and again and take some of the glitter with you.
You will remember your moment with God when he was close to you in your own way.
Like the joy of Christmas Eve and the radiance on people's faces. And this memory will give you strength beyond Christmas, deep into the year, to face whatever happens ... nothing can frighten you because you know: God is with me, come what may. Amen.