We need to remove our Sandals in order to enter the Holy Place

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 15th Week - Wednesday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 11:25-27*

*First Reading - Ex 3:1-6, 9-12*

*We need to remove our Sandals in order to enter the Holy Place*

*Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground*

*1) Mosses was asked by the Lord, to remove His sandals*

In the book of Exodus, we come across, that God is asking Moses to remove His sandals because the place was Holy 

So it was clear that, in order to enter the Holy place, Moses had to remove the Sandals

So we see the need and necessity of removing the sandals 

*2) Why sandals had to be removed*

First of all sandals are not the original part of the body 

It is something which can be called as extra fitting to our body 

Secondly, when we use sandals, while walking, they become dirty, and all the dirt is found on the sandals

So in one word we say that sandals are dirty, after being used for walking 

So it is improper to wear such dirty sandals and to enter the Holy Place 

So the best idea would be remove the sandals and entre into the Holy Place 

*3) The concept of Sandals in my Life*

Here we are not taking about the sandals which we use for our feet 

But we use the concept of sandals in a different way, which has deeper implications to our spiritual life 

So the concept of Sandals can be used in the Following way 

We need to remove the sandals of our ego

We need to remove the sandals of our selfishness, jealousy, pride, anger, duplicity, arrogance, revenge,  hypocrisy

We need to remove the sandals of self centeredness, hidden motives, narrow mentality, non cooperation and so on

When we remove these sandals from our heart and mind we can enter the Holy Place without much difficulties

*4) To remove sandals from feet is easy, but from heart and mind not easy*

It is our experience that to remove sandals from our feet is very easy. It does not require much efforts 

But to remove the sandals from, our heart and mind, from our life and from our attitude, from our behaviour and from our way of life is not easy 

This needs a continuous efforts, which may help us in removing the sandals to some extent 

*5) Am I ready to remove sandals from my Life?*

All of us would like to enter into the holy place as Moses wanted 

But we need to understand the gravity of removing the sandals to enter into the Holy Place 

If so, am I ready? 

Am I ready to face the challenges in removing the sandals from my life? 

What are the sandals I carry in my daily life? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*