In Lent, the dazzling icons are covered in purple

Saint Michael’s parishioners connect to Episcopal touchstones in our sanctuary in many ways. There is the lighting of candles, the seasonal altar tapestries, the Jerusalem made Stations of the Cross tiles as well as the icons hanging on the wall. These images can be representations of what exists in heaven—a bishop’s chair as a throne, and a Eucharist altar for the heavenly feast, bright celestial lights are our current candles, and angels are portrayed in our stained-glass windows.

A new Madonna and child icon from Greece had been donated recently; it is dazzling in whites and golds and yellows. I first noticed it in during a staff meeting in the priest’s office before it was framed. At the time it wasn’t all that memorable. But now, as if in all its glory, it sits within a new gold frame that accents the colors perfectly. With a votive rack at the base, the icon was stunning.  The man who donated the icon; he is from Greece and a parent to a choir member. He sits with his wife quietly each week in the middle pews, sharing donuts with a granddaughter after worship.

When I noticed that this man didn’t come forward for Eucharist, I wondered if we had another atheist in our midst. For some reason, Saint Michael’s attracts retired professors from the local university who are at the very beginning of their faith journey. I wondered what impediment might be keeping him from joining the Communion dais. But before I had a chance to ask him, it was the donation of this beautiful icon, that has moved him closer to the altar.  He said the icon was for the prayers for cancer when the priest asked if there were any birthdays or anniversaries during announcements. After the man came up to the microphone on two different Sundays to share, I realized there was something more going on in his refraining from Eucharist.

I spend time at this new Greek icon every week as I light a candle on the votive stand for family and friends, that God would bless, protect, and prosper them. A couple of weeks ago, I saw that it was now covered in purple cloth. Our custodian, who is also named Susan, had carefully draped each icon in a purple covering a couple of days before Ash Wednesday. It was then, I knew for me, Lent had begun.  I missed the dazzling icon already; but this confrontation of the purple veil stayed with me.

I began my research on the theme of veils, focusing on the New Testament.

But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
—2 Corinthians 3:15.

I would like to interpret this as, when we rely on the Lord, we dazzle!

With further exploration in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the temple veil was ripped in two. If there are three similar references to a singular event, it must have been important! I believe for the modern Christian, knowing God in a personal way could be taken for granted. We are told to pray and to not lose heart. Or one might say, “I will pray for you” as if a cliché. And yet, it came to me in this Lenten season, that one reason prayer is valuable to God, is because it is through his Son. Jesus died so we can have a direct line of communication with God.

^“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
—Matthew 27:50.

Jesus helped us to enter into the Holy of Holies.  We move through the veil.

Paul develops this theological point further in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52  to bring us close to heaven.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”

We will dazzle!