19 Jul 2023
Holy Ground
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For 19 July 2023, Wednesday of week 15 in Ordinary Time, based on Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ He said further, ‘I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’ But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ He said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.’
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
19 July 2023 @ 10:58 pm
“Walk slowly, bow often”, thanks, Beth, for the unraveling of today’s Gospel message.
19 July 2023 @ 11:13 pm
Beth, I always look forward to hearing you preach. Your preaching is eloquent and practical.. Thank you so much ????
19 July 2023 @ 11:42 pm
Thank you, Beth! I wish everyone in the world could hear your words! Beautifully preached!
19 July 2023 @ 11:57 pm
Thank you Beth,
Once again you give us a contemporary interpretation of the scriptures. It reminds me of Elizabeth Barrett Browning “Earth’s crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only she who sees takes off her shoes; the rest sit around and pluck blackberries.”
20 July 2023 @ 12:57 am
Such a surprise to open my computer to your picture, Beth. I am thrilled that you are still breaking open the Word and in such a profound way! Blessings, helencahill,op
20 July 2023 @ 2:53 am
Dear Beth, Your prayer today is pure poetry! It was beautifully written and makes me think of the “Holy” ground we have inherited! With all thanks, Nick Punch
20 July 2023 @ 5:02 am
Beth – Thanks for making my day – one of my all-time favorite scripture passages!
20 July 2023 @ 11:05 am
Thanks for reminding us that our Earth is holy ground. We need the positive right now, don’t we?