In the office readings today, we get three pictures of glory: Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.

We see Moses with his face veiled because God is too terrible for the people to see directly. We see Elijah, riding the skies in a fiery chariot, making God’s power more directly visible. And in Jesus “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” (2 Cor. 3:18).

“If there was glory in the ministry of condemnation,” Paul writes, “much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory! … Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness …” (2 Cor. 3:9, 12).

“Our Father in heaven,” we are bold to say ….

And in the Collect for today we are also bold to say: “Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and changed into his likeness from glory to glory” (BCP 217).

Changed into Jesus’ likeness! What a wonderful hope!

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.