“Moses! Come no closer. Remove the sandals from your feet, for the ground on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5, NRSV)
I’ve always been fascinated by this passage of scripture. God has told Moses that the place where he has encountered God (by the burning bush) is holy ground. During my recent trip to the Holy Land, I became intrigued by the many places that still had the same stone paths that were present during Jesus’ time. I saw steps leading up and down the hillside near Caiaphas’ house, as well as the entry ways to the many different gates to the city of Jerusalem. Just knowing that there were places where my feet touched the same paths as Jesus’ gave me a sense of elation and awe. Standing at the Western Wall, I wanted to take my shoes off, for the place where I was standing was holy ground!
Isn’t it strange that for many of us, we find that such places are holy ground, and yet we somehow can’t see where God’s Spirit is with us in our everyday lives? Just a moment ago, I went upstairs from my office into the sanctuary to retrieve my hymnal that I had left there yesterday after worship, and as I was leaving the sanctuary, it dawned on me how accustomed I had grown to this place. It was as if I were leaving any other room. Now, don’t get me wrong – that sanctuary is just a room with four walls and a ceiling! And yet, just a day earlier we had gathered in that place to encounter and worship the Living God.
But it made me stop and think. How many times have I been in the presence of the Almighty, and have not paid any attention? How many times have I shared the same space as the Holy Spirit, and been oblivious to my company? How many times have I entered a room with someone who holds the Spirit of the Living God deep within her or his soul, and have completely ignored it? This person may have been baptized in the name of the Triune God, and I have treated them as an object, or even an obstacle!
When we fail to see God in the other person, we miss the rich significance of the presence of the Holy. We are unaware of the fact that the ground on which we are standing is holy ground – that God’s mark is upon that other person. This true of not only the stranger, but our families and friends as well!
This week, as we enter into the season of Lent, I pray that we can all take a moment to reflect on the holy moments when we encounter the Divine in our lives. It doesn’t always have to be a brazen as a burning bush – sometimes God just whispers our name through the voice of a stranger, a child, a senior citizen, or even a loved one. Listen again for God’s voice as you are called.
And take your shoes off. You might just be sharing holy ground with the Almighty!
See you in Church!
Grace and peace,
Brad
