Homilies on Genesis and Exodus

Homily XII

HOMILY XII On the glorified countenance of Moses and on the veil which he placed on his face HETEXTOF EXODUS HAS BEEN READ TO US which either stimulates us to seek understanding or repels us. It stimulates zealous and open minds; it repels idle and occupied minds. For it is written: "Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, and his face and the appearance ofhis countenance had been glorified, and they were afraid to approach him.'" And the text says a little further on: "Moses placed a veil on his face. But whenever he went into the presence of the Lord to speak to him he laid the veil aside."2 But the Apostle in discussing these things with that noble understanding which he uses in other matters of which he said, "But we have the mind of Christ,"3 said: "But if the ministration of death engraven with letters upon stones was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance, which is passing away, how shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?"4 And again a little later he says, "And not as Moses placed a veil on his face that the sons of Israel might not steadfastly look at the appearance of his countenance. For their senses were made dull, for until this present day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart."5 Who would not marvel at the magnitude of the mysteries ? Who would not greatly fear the sign of a dulled heart? Moses' face was glorified, but "the sons of Israel" were not able "to look at the appearance of his countenance"; the people of 1 Ex 34.30. 2 Ex 34.33-34. 31 Cor 2.16. 4 2 Cor 3.7-8. 5 2 Cor 3.13-15. 367 368 ORIGEN the Synagogue were not able "to look." But if anyone can be superior in conduct and life to the multitude, he can look at the glory of his countenance. For even now, as the Apostle says, "The veil is placed on the reading ofthe Old Testament";6 even now Moses speaks with glorified countenance, but we are not able to look at the glory which is in his countenance. We are not able, therefore, because we are still the populace and we have no zeal or merit more than the common crowd. But because the holy Apostle says, "But that same veil remains in the reading of the Old Testament,"7 the expressed opinion ofsuch a great apostle would have cut off all hope of understanding for us ifhe had not added: "But when anyone shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be removed."8 He says, therefore, that the cause of the removal of the veil is our turning to the Lord. We should draw the conclusion from this that as long as we read the divine Scriptures without understanding, as long as what has been written is obscure to us and closed, we have not yet turned to the Lord. For if we had turned to the Lord, without doubt the veil would have been removed. (2) But let us also see what it means "to turn to the Lord." And that we might be able to know more clearly what turned to means, we must first say what turned away means. Everyone who is occupied with common stories when the words of the Law are read is turned away. Everyone who is concerned about affairs of the world, about money, about profits "when Moses is read" is turned away. Everyone who is tied up with concerns for possessions and distracted by the desire for riches, who is zealous for the glory of the age and honors of the world is turned away. But he also is turned away who appears to be a stranger to the attitudes we have just mentioned; who stands and hears the words ofthe Law intent both in countenance and eyes, but wanders in his heart and thoughts. What, then, does it mean to turn to? If we turn our backs on all these things and give attention to the word ofGod with zeal, actions, mind, and care; if "we meditate on his Law day and 62 Cor 3.14. 72 Cor 3.14. 82 Cor 3.16. EXODUS HOMILY XII...