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Spiritual Reflection
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March 05, 2010 | | | |  | Spiritual Reflection, Third Sunday of Lent
March 7, 2010
When God called Moses from the burning bush, he launched him on one of the longest, most significant journeys in history – and began by telling him: “Remove the sandals from your feet”(Exodus 3:5). Why would God say that?
The second half of the verse offers a reason: “The place where you stand is holy ground.” Imagine how fast Moses obeyed! In Egypt, where he grew up, people were required to go barefoot before Pharaoh or any other superior. It was both an expression of respect and an admission of a lower-status position. Standing before the greatest Lord of all, whose glory shimmered out like an invisible force field, Moses must have felt awed and humbled indeed.
What does this tell us about our approach to prayer? Without any burning bushes to jolt us, it's easy to relate to God casually, even as if it's something of a chore. The image of Moses removing his sandals reminds us that our loving Father is an awesome God whose holiness we cannot even begin to comprehend. It tells us to approach him with reverence, humility, and an awareness of our sin and frailty. But the scene speaks to us in other ways as well.
Shoes and sandals get dirty, and still today in many cultures and homes, people take them off before entering the house. In a way that's what we are called to do when we come before God. Grimy footwear can also symbolize the distractions that pop up when we pray. If this happens, we can follow the advice of St. Alphonsus Liguori and try our best to leave all extraneous thoughts at the door of our prayer time. We can also say, along with St. Bernard: “O my thoughts, wait here. After prayer we shall speak about other matters.”
So as you go to pray today, take off your sandals! The One who called Moses is calling you!
“Father, who am I that you should love me so much – enough to give up your only Son for my sake? Help me to set aside everything that separates me from you and to return your love as fully as I can.” | | | | | |
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 Our Lady of Lourdes - In 1858, in a grotto, near Lourdes in southern France, Our Lady appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous, a young peasant girl. She revealed herself as the Immaculate Conception, asked that a chapel be built on the site of the vision, and told the girl to drink from a fountain in the grotto. When Bernadette dug at a spot designated by the apparition, a spring began to flow. The water from this still flowing spring has shown remarkable healing power, though it contains no curative property that science can identify. Lourdes has become the most famous modern shrine of Our Lady. |
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