Exodus 2:23–25; 3:1–15; 4:10–17
Moses wasn’t in a temple or a sanctuary when God called to him. He wasn’t at a festival or feast day, surrounded by prayers and hymns. He was out in the wilderness, tending sheep. Ordinary work. Ordinary ground.
But then, in the middle of his everyday routine, something caught his attention: a bush, burning but not consumed. He turned aside, and in that moment he found himself standing on holy ground.
It’s easy to imagine that God’s presence belongs in special places: churches, cathedrals, retreats, pilgrimages. Yet this story reminds us that God’s holiness can break into the most ordinary spaces. The desert path, the workplace, the home kitchen, the hospital hallway, the classroom desk, these too can become holy ground when we pause long enough to notice.
In last week’s reading, Jacob said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” Moses might have said the same. And perhaps we can too. The invitation is not just to look for God in the obvious places, but to open our eyes to the possibility that any place can become a place of encounter.
Holiness doesn’t always look like the spectacular. Sometimes it’s the simple surprise that draws us to pay attention, to take off our “shoes,” and to recognize: God is here.
Take time with this reading and with your day and reflect on these questions:
- Where in your daily routine might God be inviting you to “turn aside” and notice holy ground?
- Have you ever experienced God’s presence in a place you never expected?
- What would it look like to pause and honor the ordinary spaces in your life as places where God meets you?
Let’s pray:
God of burning bushes and holy ground, open our eyes to see you in the ordinary places of our lives. Help us to turn aside from our busy routines and recognize your presence that surrounds us. May we learn to walk gently, with hearts ready to notice that we stand on holy ground wherever you are with us. AMEN
