We are studying Paul’s letters in gift of the Holy Spirit for one of my classes this week– just a little territory for one week!  While reading and listening to the lectures, one verse in particular stayed in my mind.  2 Corinthians 3:18 reads, “All of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.”  I’ve written about this verse before.  Last time I focused on the words “being transformed” and talked about how we do not become perfect overnight but are, instead, transformed into God’s image over time.  Today, I want to focus on the word “seeing.”  The word Paul used was “katopirzomenei.”  This word can be translated to mean both see and reflect.  In this particular verse, I think it means both.  Remember when Moses came down off of Mt. Sanai and wore a veil because he face shown too brightly for the people, causing them to be fearful? (Exodus 34)  Moses’ face shown because he had spent time in God’s presence and was reflecting God’s glory.  We, too, are meant to spend time in God’s presence through prayer, Scripture, worship and working alongside God to help bring God’s kingdom to all.  When we do, we see God and also begin reflecting God’s glory, and are being transformed into God’s image.  In other words, when the Holy Spirit is working in our lives, Jesus is made visible through us.  Or, as Lois Malcolm put it in her book, The Generative Grammar of the Holy Spirit, “Now ‘all of us’– with ‘unveiled’ faces– can both see and reflect (3:18) the glory of Jesus to one another and in this way be transformed by the Holy Spirit from ‘one degree of glory to another.'”  Read 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally!

Annie

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Corinthians+3%3A7-18&version=NRSV