Reflection
O Adonai, sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free.
This deep desire and longing for freedom is in the hearts of all humanity, some in the reality of bondage and oppression, all in the bondage of their own struggles, flaws and yearning for spiritual wholeness. In scripture, Moses’ hears the call of the God of ancient Israel and answers: “Here I am.” God responds: “Come no nearer. Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.” As we seek our own inner freedom, we realize that it is linked to the freedom of all beings. Where we stand is the place where we will meet God. We do not have to search elsewhere. All creation is holy ground for us. Realizing this and living it can be our common path to healing and freedom.
Prayer
May I recognize God’s presence in creation and join the work of releasing humans and non-humans from the many oppressions imposed on them.
Action
Do you place limits on specific places as holy ground? Do you think of all creation as holy? Broaden your views and find your own liberation so that you can touch those you meet with a spirit that sets them free.
Suggested Reading
But He shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked. Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Isaiah 11:4-5
And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Ruler, that shall rule my people Israel.
Matthew 2:6
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:32
We were created not to be tyrants, but to be at the heart of a network of life made up of millions of species lovingly joined together for us by our Creator.
Pope Francis
Tread softly! All the earth is holy ground.
Christina Rossetti
The natural world is the larger sacred community to which we belong. To be alienated from this community is to become destitute in all that makes us human. To damage this community is to diminish our own existence.
Thomas Berry
For Christians, every place they walk is, in a sense, holy ground. We lose sight of the preciousness of our daily steps, that God hallows the ordinary that’s committed to Him. Tourists who have visited Israel and have seen the places where Jesus walked often experience a sense of awe at being where Jesus was when He walked on earth. Yet He lives today, and He still walks on earth–in our shoes. Look around you, and see the holy ground on which you walk.
Nick Harrison
Do you remember Moses at the burning bush? God had to tell him to take off his shoes–he didn’t know he was on holy ground. And if we can just come to see that right where we are is holy ground–in our jobs and homes, with our co-workers and friends and families. This is where we learn to pray.
Richard Foster
Through life, I want to walk gently. I want to treat all of life – the earth and its people – with reverence. I want to remove my shoes in the presence of holy ground. As much as possible, I want to walk in peace.
Steve Goodier
We stand before a burning bush whenever other human beings share with us something of their relationship with God or something of the movements of their hearts. In such moments may we always realize that we stand on holy groun
Margaret Silf
Awareness of the sacred in life is what holds our world together, and the lack of awareness of the sacred is what is tearing it apart.
Joan Chittister
The more deeply you understand other people, the more you will appreciate them, the more reverent you will feel about them. To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.
Stephen Covey
As you walk upon the sacred earth, treat each step as a prayer.
Black Elk
Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.
Joseph Campbell