Unveiled Faces

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
Transfiguration (C)
March 2, 2025
William G. Carter

Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who 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. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds;  but when one turns to the Lord, the veil w. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And 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.

Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.

Maybe it’s because people know what I do for a living, but I don’t get a lot of invitations to a Mardi Gras party. But there was that one time, a few years back. A couple of us were invited to a restaurant in the Poconos. On the buffet there was a simmering pot of gumbo, shrimp etouffee, and a very tasty jambalaya. Over at the bar, the fluids were flowing. Dessert was a King Cake, a sweet delicacy with three colors of icing: green to symbolize faith, purple for justice, gold for power.

It was a festive gathering. Hot jazz was jangling in the background. People were doing their best to talk over the music – and everybody was wearing a mask. We didn’t get the memo about the masks. It was obvious we were guests.

A short woman with moussed-up Cruella deVil hair drew near to give me a hug. Her face was covered with feathers. I could tell it was Lois who had invited us to the bash. After her ice-breaking hug, a few others came up to say hello. Then some dude in a flannel shirt, reggae dreadlocks under a New York Yankees cap accosted me with a bear hug. He spilled his beverage on my shirt. I had no idea who it was – his mask had a long white beard that descended to his waste. “Who are you?” I asked. No reply. I looked at my friends. They didn’t know.

Just then he gestured in a certain way. Ah, it was Kent, Lois’ husband. The mask disguised him very well. In fact, he had been dancing and grooving to the music, something I never would have guessed he would do. Normally he’s quiet and mild-mannered. The mask released something else.

Have you ever been to the Mardi Gras? Masks are a big part of the celebration. There are big parades with elaborate floats and syncopated marching bands. All the social clubs get out and strut their stuff. People are singing, laughing, and dancing in the streets. Strings of beads are thrown into the crowds, with the same three colors of green, purple, and gold. And then the masks – simple masks, elaborate masks, masks with rhinestones and sequins, masks with ostrich feathers.

Why would anybody wear the masks? There is no single answer. A mask keeps you anonymous. Masks are the great equalizer. People are no longer distinguished by their looks. Everybody is the same. Others say masks take away inhibitions. Put on a mask and you become somebody else for a while. Lose your inhibitions. Let yourself go. Dance like nobody recognizes you!

It’s interesting that two of the Bible texts for today tell us something about masks. The first is the story of Moses. He climbs the mountain to talk to God. He is infused with the holiness of God. When he climbs back down the mountain, he’s glowing like the sun. It scared everybody, beginning with his brother Aaron. They wouldn’t come near him. So, he put a veil over his face. He took it off when he returned to talk with God, but then put it back on when he talked with the people of Israel.

It’s a strange story – and it has nothing to do with the masks in New Orleans. Mardi Gras began there as a religious festival in a French Catholic town. It was the last hurrah before the restrictions of Lent. In time, it has gotten crazy at times. Like the guy pulled aside from the revelry one year. The news reported asked him, “Why are you wearing that mask?” He replied without thinking, “Nobody is going to recognize me on the security cameras tonight.” Not a lot of holiness going on, we can be sure.

But then there’s that other text. Saint Paul is thinking out loud about that old story of Moses. And he’s wondering why a lot of people don’t comprehend the Gospel. Why do they miss the point about Jesus? He admits some of us are afraid around too much holiness. If there’s too much Holy Spirit, it’s scary. They back off. They pull the shades on too much light.

That reminds me of what Professor Jim Dittes used to say when he taught at Yale Divinity School. He said, “The reason people come to church and sit in the back is because they want to be in the presence of something holy – but not too close!”    

So, the apostle Paul says the old veil in the Moses story didn’t just keep too much glory from being shown to others. It also functioned to keep the glory of God from getting too close. And when we keep God away, it never turns out well for us. The apostle gives us a quick list:

We play games and hide the shameful things that we do.

We practice cunning, maneuvering and manipulating behind the scenes.

We twist God’s Word to suit ourselves, making it say things it doesn’t say.

And ultimately, we lose heart. We throw up our hands and walk away.[1]

The people of God have always had to live in deceptive times. In every age, there’s somebody out there trying to dominate us or deceive us or twist us out of shape. It leads the apostle Paul to say, “Take off the masks.” It’s OK to play dress up for fun, but it’s better to be real. Better to be honest. Better to think and reason and stay true, rather than manufacture noise and nonsense that lead others and ourselves astray.

The truth is that Jesus is the truth. He is the truth that God rules over us all and waits for us to wake up and claim his rule. Jesus is the Perfect Light who dispels all the shadows. To be bathed in his light is to never need to hide. We stand tall, we claim our dignity and everybody else’s dignity. And Jesus is the Spirit of True Freedom. To know his love is to never be ashamed. To step into his freedom is work for everybody else’s freedom. For God created us for truth, light, love, and freedom. There is no need to hide from him. We can take off the masks.

Yesterday, a minister friend in New Jersey shared a poem. I don’t know if he composed it spontaneously, like a jazz poem, but it sounds like he’s been thinking about it for a while. For it sounds like he knows what it looks like to live in truth, light, love, and freedom. He calls it “Make America Good Again.” Goes like this:

Make America good again—

The wiser, more faithful path.

Greatness isn’t necessarily goodness,
It’s often an excuse to stay small,

To be stuck in adolescence.

Winning at all costs isn’t winning at all—

Not if we trample others on the way.

Securing our comfort,

Ensuring our privilege

May be the norm,

But it’ll never be true greatness,

Not for those who bear Christ’s name,

Who take Jesus to heart.

Jesus is crystal clear—

Goodness is the narrow way,

The harder, more righteous path.

So, be like Jesus again—

Choose purpose over power,

Solidarity over isolation.

Confront the oppressors,

Lift up the oppressed,

And let goodness reign.[2]

This is God’s world, and the world is always ready for more goodness. Goodness and honesty and freedom and love and joy. Above all, joy. So, let’s have some fun today. Tap our feet, clap our hands, and do what we can to look a little bit more like Jesus. Take off the masks and be who God has created us to be.

(c) William G. Carter. All rights reserved.

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[1] As suggested by Eugene Peterson’s translation of the text, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20corinthians%204&version=MSG

[2] Marc Oehler, “Make America Good Again,” 1 March 2025.