Elections have a way of revealing a diversity of perspectives about priorities and expectations. Leading up to election day, we are bombarded with information about what is wrong, what doesn’t work, how one party’s approach will make life worse for some, and so on and so on. Then the votes are cast. Many don’t bother for some reason. The rest are split in their views. It is clear that we don’t all look at our context in the same way. We don’t all value the same things. We don’t all have the same priorities and perspectives. We each don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.
Moses, … put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened.
Today we heard the story. As the Israelites wandered the wilderness, led by Moses, they were given the Ten Commandments, rules to guide and govern their lives. These are pretty simple:
- God is number one, don’t worship anyone or anything else
- Don’t take God’s name in vain
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
- Honour your parents
- Don’t kill
- Don’t commit adultery
- Don’t steal
- Don’t bear false witness against your neighbour
- Don’t covet your neighbour’s spouse
- Don’t covet your neighbour’s goods
Some might say these commandments are intuitive, they reflect the Great Commandment to love God and love neighbour. If we love God and neighbour, these follow. No problem, right?
Then again, people have diverse perspectives and priorities. Some like to push the boundaries and try to get away with as much as possible for their own benefit. Some like to question, to nit pick and try to determine what applies to whom and when so that they can judge others while looking righteous themselves.
We don’t all look at our context in the same way. We don’t all value the same things. We don’t all have the same priorities and perspectives. We each don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.
Except, during the interaction with God in which he received these commandments, Moses’s face began to glow. This was a clear signifier that what he was presenting to the people was holy. It was not something that should be taken lightly. It was not something about which they could be apathetic and complacent. It was not something that could be easily twisted and manipulated for personal gain. No wonder the mere fact of Moses’s face glowing from God’s presence caused fear. No wonder their minds hardened.
No wonder minds still harden. People see what they want to see. Willful ignorance gives us permission to pretend that we don’t know or understand things that we ought to know and understand and so we don’t have to feel bad about making certain choices. We can conveniently forget the impact of what we do claiming our intentions are good.
This doesn’t work as well when we are reminded about God, especially when we are reminded about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Would Jesus have voted the same way we did in this last election? How else might Jesus engage in the democratic process? What does this say about what we are called to do? Looking at God’s glory changes the perspective, doesn’t it?
Knowing this, can and should be hopeful. In Jesus we are given a glimpse of a world where love for all people and creation is the priority. That includes those individuals who society devalues, criminalises, and treats most poorly. That includes creation. In Jesus, we are offered the possibility of a utopia in which love prevails to the point where all are valued, all are valid, and all are included and can generously share their gifts. We have gotten glimpses of how incredible this kind of world can be because of the ministry we do here.
As it was once said to the Corinthians, it can be said to us: Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We trust that God working in and through us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. We acknowledge that glimpses of God’s glory have transformed us. We believe that there is more to come through the grace of God.
May we be fearless in our openness to look for glimpses of God’s glory in our world today and allow God’s light to shine in and through us for those who need to see those glimpses too. This we pray as we sing: (VT) 715 Longing for Light