Exodus 34:29-35

Okay that's weird. Moses goes away, comes back glowing, so people believe he talked to God and they accept what Moses says as commandments from God. As a Christian Lectionary, this is a setup for what's coming in the gospel reading, the Transfiguration, the moment the disciples really get it that Jesus is taking a place at the head table of the prophets. Reading the preceding chapters in Exodus, we see Moses didn't just see YHWH, he negotiated with him on behalf of the people. Sometimes he also became the giver of God's wrath, but sometimes he said he wouldn't go along with that.

The veil is a symbol of the difficulty of translating God's words to human words. Since we don't really know what Moses was hearing, or what these authors were trying to say, the veil becomes more of a symbol of mystery. We know we aren't hearing the word of God at all, but just what someone wants us to hear, with an added touch of reverence.

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2

This Lectionary week shows the history of the changing relationship to God. Second Corinthians was most likely written before Luke, so from Paul we get sort an exegesis of the Exodus text, explaining what the veil symbolized and how he now understands it because he has spoken with the new improved God. The Jewish leadership has kept this veil in place to keep people from seeing the full glory. Now that Christ is here, it can be set aside. You don't need Moses anymore, or to hear readings about him, just turn to the Spirit.

Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)

By the time the gospel are written, these the ideas from Paul are put into stories. Jesus can chat with Moses. Peter and John can see God giving Jesus his blessing. Jesus is the one glowing now. But immediately, instead of being open to this new spirit, they are silent. This is probably more about how the prophecy of the messiah works than about sharing their beliefs. Later, after the crucifixion, they get the Great Commandment to go and spread the gospel. I had trouble with these statements about telling no one and I've seen others struggle with them. My best understanding of them is that Jesus needed the authorities to kill him to fulfill the prophecy, and if they let on what the plan was, they might not have done it.