NOTES for Exo 38:1-31

The gleam of gold, silver, and bronze makes one squint. The brightness and richness of the Tabernacle’s adornment, and of modern churches as well, bewilder an outsider. So much material wealth has been used up for no apparent reason instead of being put to real, useful purposes. The splendor of these precious objects seems excessive, but this is how people choose to make visible their attitude toward the Invisible One who dwells beside them. Wandering through the wilderness without homes, the Jews give their most beautiful possessions to God. The radiance of the Tabernacle’s gold places the emphasis where it is needed. Yes, there are many poor and sick people and many in need, but restoring balance and setting things right requires as much of God’s presence in the world as possible. Without Him, without the source of love, everything will be meaningless. Much later Jesus, speaking about the wasteful expenditure of the ointment, said: “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (Matt 26:11).