Veil

I appreciate the word veil... It usually means that something beautiful is hidden. When something is "unveiled" there is anticipation to see what will be revealed.

This prayer is one we should all desire to pray. We should all want to tear the veil that keeps us from seeing Adonai.

O GOD, You are as near as

the very air we breath,

yet farther than the farthermost star.

We yearn to reach You.

We seek the light and warmth of Your Presence.

Though we say You are near,

we are lonely and alone.

O let our desire be so strong

that it will tear the veil that keeps You from our sight!

Let Your light release our darkness,

and reveal the glory and joy of Your Presence.

pg 345

Mishkan T'Filah

A Reform Siddur

We know there was a veil in the Temple. That veil kept out the "unclean" as only those who were "cleansed" could enter the Presence of God. When that veil was torn - ANYONE - was allowed to approach the throne of God.

I think we are still learning that today. People are still told (or made to feel) as if they are "bad" and "unclean" if they don't look or act in a certain way. They are made to feel as if they must change something in order to be in the Presence of the Most High. Bottom line, God meets us where we are and that is what we must share with others. People need to know that God will change us from the inside out, not the outside in. Doing things, looking a certain way, and going certain places will not guarantee us a seat in the Presence of God.

God looks at the heart - the inside. He sees inside our veil and loves the inside. He meets us anywhere and in any condition.

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as a sure and safe anchor for ourselves, a hope that goes right on through to what is inside the parokhet,

Parokhet is the curtain/screen/veil that covers the Torah and was what separated the ark in the Temple. We have HOPE because this was torn. Let's share that HOPE with others. Don't expect them to change - just love them and share His Light. When we get behind the veil that people have put up, and we bring them that HOPE, than lives are changed.

Love and blessings,

Rose