December 14

Communion And Transformation

And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD. — Exod 34:29 BSB

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. — 2 Cor 3:18 BSB

When Moses returned from the mountain where he had glimpsed as much of God’s glory as a human can bear, there was a strange radiance on his face. He was unaware of it, but everyone else could see it. Moses had spent enough time in God’s presence that he became saturated with His light and glory. It’s no wonder that his face shone with it, and that he had to cover it with a veil!

St. Paul refers to this event, explaining that the light shining from Moses’ face symbolizes the character transformation that occurs in those who behold or reflect the glory of the Lord. As we gaze upon the glory in the face of Jesus Christ, we are transformed into His likeness.

There are two key principles for Christian living: keep looking at Jesus until you become like Him, and reflect Him to others. As we reflect Him, the process of transformation continues. The old saying goes, “Tell me the company a person keeps, and I will tell you their character.” We could also say, “Tell me the subjects of their constant meditation, and I will tell you the expression on their face.” If we desire to be pure, good, and Christ-like, we must live in close fellowship with Christ. By beholding and reflecting His glory, even the lowliest and most sinful can be transformed into His image.

Unlike Moses, the glory of Christ is unveiled to us. Let us be careful of anything that might bring a veil between Him and us—sin and inconsistency being the most likely culprits. Moses did not know his face was shining, just as Samson did not know the Lord had departed from him (Judges 16:20). There is a blessed unconsciousness, but also a tragic one. Let us watch and pray, that we may not be caught unaware, losing our purity and strength without realizing it.

Prayer

We long to be holy as You are holy, to love as Christ loved us, to be patient and unwavering as He was, and to reflect Him in such a way that others will love Him for what they see in us. Amen.