July 16, 2025 // Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12
Reflect on the Word //
The blue, metal doors of the orphanage opened for me and I walked over to the chapel that was bursting with songs of praise to the Lord. The children had left their sandals out in the corridor before entering the chapel for Adoration and so I bent over, unstrapped my sandals, and left them at the door too.
“Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). Why must Moses remove his sandals? Why must he come before the presence of the Lord barefoot, laying aside something so seemingly insignificant and unassuming as sandals?
Intimacy. Here, in the closeness of the Lord to Moses’ whole being, the sandals act as an impediment to experiencing the fullness of the glory of that moment. As he stretched down to loosen his sandals and slip them off his feet, perhaps Moses had a moment to breathe and realize what was at hand—he was about to meet the living God. As he obeyed the command to remove his sandals, what else did Moses remove? Perhaps his expectations, his fear, his doubts, his shame. Leaving aside the sandals and walking forward toward the burning bush, Moses was able to enter into conversation with the Lord, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6).
As Moses listened to the Lord in this place of intimacy, he also received a call, a commissioning to go out to Pharaoh and plead for his people, to lead them into freedom. When you and I, sister, spend time in the innermost place of our hearts, where we have laid aside our own “sandals”—our expectations, fears, doubts, and shame—we find that we, too, are being sent out to the world, to the needy, to our own families and friends, to speak to them of the Love that has astounded us, that has amazed us because it burns but does not consume (see Exodus 3:3). May we take off our sandals and walk in greater intimacy with the Lord—let us, too, burn for Him.
Relate to the Lord // When was the last time you burned for the Lord? Ask Him to rekindle your love.
Rocio Hermes is a Dominican-born, US-raised, stay-at-home mom who is excited about building community, baking desserts, and writing poetry. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology and has lived in Ethiopia as a missionary. Rocio now lives in Israel with her German husband and their son. She is a contributing author to Blessed Conversations: Dwell as well as Teaching Author on Blessed Conversations: Gift, a Study on the Eucharist. You can read more from her at graceandmercyblog.com.
Rocío Hermes es una mama de casa nacida en República Dominicana y criada en Estados Unidos, a quien le entusiasma construir una comunidad, hornear postres y escribir poesía. Tiene una maestría en Teología y ha vivido en Etiopía como misionera. Rocío ahora vive en Israel con su marido alemán y su hijo. Es autora colaboradora de Blessed Conversations: Dwell. Puede leer más sobre ella en Graceandmercyblog.com.
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