Grace and Peace Episode 36

 Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Grace and Peace Episode 36

Presbyterian Church of Easton

May 23, 2021

Watch Episode 36

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2

This is a special edition of Grace and Peace celebrating the Sunday when the Covid 19 Mask Mandate ended at the church.

Exodus 34:29 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.

When Moses, or anyone, comes into the presence of God a transformation occurs.   This happened to Moses as he was getting the ten commandments.   And this will happen to us when we come into the presence of God.

Exodus 34:33 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.

Moses’ transformation must have been very noticeable to the Hebrews.  So Moses wore a mask to cover his face so people would not see what had happened to him.

Exodus 26:31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 

When the Hebrews built their Temple they believed that God lived in the Most Holy Place.   In order to protect themselves, they placed a curtain between themselves and God.

Matthew 27:50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

But at the moment Jesus died this curtain was torn in two.   There is therefore no longer a veil that separates us from God.

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So as we come to worship, unmasked, we come face to face with God, the Holy Spirit.   This has a transformative effect on us just as it had on Moses.   Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for protecting us through this pandemic.   Thank you for preserving our health.   As come to church with unveiled face transform us into the people you want us to be.   We pray all this in Jesus’ name.   Amen.