(Exodus 3:1-15)
“Whenever someone tells their story, you are standing on holy
ground. The Burning Bush is God’s story.”  
-Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
This Sunday we will hear the the story of Moses and the Burning Bush where the angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a flame of fire. The bush is ablaze yet it is not consumed. And God calls to Moses, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
This week, the story of Jacob Blake and Kenosha Wisconsin is holy ground.
Kenosha is also the hometown of All Saints parishioner Sarah Rattle. Sarah spoke with me about Kenosha. Her story. The city filled with sacred childhood memories (elementary school, 4th of July parades, karate classes, refuge on the shore of Lake Michigan, family friends with down town shops) is aflame with pain.
How will they recover? They are heartbroken.
Two protesters have been murdered and Jacob Blake is paralyzed.
The hearts of many are burning yet they are not consumed.
There is fury and grief and misery.
Will we, like Moses, pay attention: “turn aside to look at this great site”?
-to the oppression, atrocities, and fear in our own country?
-to the burning in our hearts?Will we hesitate like Moses?
When God speaks Moses is afraid at first and hides his face.
He says to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
Who shall I say has sent me?
God says “I am what I am.”
And we are what we are.
The task and journey before us may be frightening,
but I hope that we, like Moses, without too much hesitation will respond
“Here I am.”

-Heather, Aug. 26th

 

 

 

 

image: THE BURNING BUSH by David Raderstorf