3rd Sunday Of Lent – Year C
Fr. Mark Gatto
Preached: March 23, 2025
Have you ever had an experience like Moses in our first reading today? He approaches a mysterious burning bush, he is told to remove his sandals, for he is on Holy Ground. An experience of the Holy God, an encounter with the God, who simply says, “I am who I am.” Have you ever had a burning bush experience where you recognized that you were on Holy Ground?
As Catholics, the sense of being on Holy Ground should actually be very familiar to us. In our churches, we have the Tabernacle. A vigil light is kept burning near it to remind us of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. When we enter a church we genuflect to the tabernacle. It is like we are removing our sandals recognizing that in the presence of the Tabernacle we are on Holy Ground.
In the centre of our churches is the Altar. When we cross the Altar we normally bow. For this Altar is where the Sacrifice of the Mass takes place and the Real Presence of Jesus comes into our midst in the consecrated bread and wine. In the Altar we recognize that here we are on Holy Ground.
Also at the Ambo, in the Scriptures, we make special responses and gestures to remind us that before the Bible we are on Holy Ground. Symbolically we remove our sandals like Moses before the burning bush so that we are ready to listen to the Holy God speaking to us through the Scriptures.
Also, when we are gathered with an assembly of believers as we are now, we should recognize that we are on Holy Ground. For Jesus says that where two or three are gathered in his name, he is in their midst. We should recognize the body of Christ here in this mixed group of people gathered to worship. Though we do not remove our sandals, we should recognize that when we are gathered with the church, we are on Holy Ground.
So, as Catholics we should be familiar with the experience of being in the presence of the Holy God, of standing on Holy Ground. The burning bush experience of Moses is a spiritual experience that is also possible for us.
In our Gospel today, Jesus is very clear about our need to repent, saying “unless you repent you will perish as they did.” One way we repent is to symbolically “remove our sandals,” in order to recognize that we are on Holy Ground. Not just in a church, but in each moment and each encounter of our daily lives. Here are some places we need to recognize that we are on Holy Ground.
In our home and with our family. We should treat our home and family as Holy Ground. We speak of the Domestic Church. Imagine what a difference it would we make if we treated our home and family as Holy Ground. Next time at home and with your family, in your heart simply say, “ I am on Holy Ground.”
In fact, each person we meet during the day is an opportunity to encounter the Holy God. What a difference, if we symbolically removed our sandals before each person we met during the day. Would it not change the way we speak to that person, the way we listen to that person, the way we treat that person? Next person you are about to meet, in your heart simply say, “I am on Holy Ground.”
I have often been with people as they were approaching their death. Some ask me if this is difficult. I guess in a certain way it is difficult. But, when we think about it, being with someone as they approach their death, is like being on Holy Ground. The final moments before death is truly a holy moment, as someone comes to the end of this life and moves on to the full encounter with the living God.
Next time you are with a family member or friend who is nearing death, pray silently saying, “I am on Holy Ground.” Also when we are with someone who is grieving, this too is Holy Ground. When you are with someone grieving and do not know what to say or do, simply say in your heart, “I am on Holy Ground.”
A final moment of Holy Ground I want to mention, is when we are sharing a meal with family or friends. We often say Grace to help us recognize the holiness of a shared meal. But, next time you are sharing a meal with family or friends, say simply and quietly in your heart, “I am on Holy Ground.”
During this Lent, embrace the call of Jesus to repent. One way is to recognize when you are on Holy Ground. Make that simple prayer often, “I am on Holy Ground.” Symbolically remove your sandals like Moses before the burning bush. Before each encounter with a person, at home with family, when sharing meals, when here to celebrate the Mass, when getting ready to pray or read the Scriptures, when the spring sun is shining on your face, simply pray in your heart, “I am on Holy Ground.” Then pay attention to how that changes how you are in those moments.
