In the first reading we hear about Moses and the burning bush. It is probably one of the more fascinating episodes in the Old Testament. Moses sees a strange sight while tending his father-in-law’s flock on Mt. Horeb, which is known more by its other name, Mt. Sinai. That’s right, Moses’ encounter with God in the burning bush happened on the very same mountain that the 10 Commandments were given. He sees a bush on fire, but not burning. As he comes closer to examine it he realizes that this is a manifestation of God. The author tells us that this was an angel. Angels, who are perpetually in the presence of God, bring His presence wherever they are sent. To be in the presence of an angel is to be in the presence of God. This is why Moses was on holy ground, and why he took off his sandals.
     The burning bush gives us a good image of prayer and the spiritual life. As we progress in our prayer we should become caught up in the fire of God’s love. Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary that His Sacred Heart is a furnace of love for us. So as we are drawn closer to Christ, we are drawn deeper into this furnace, and become consumed with His love, which perpetually burns for us. What feeds the fire of God’s love is the love we return back to Him.
     As we become set on fire with God’s love, however, we don’t lose anything that is integral to us. That burning bush wasn’t turned into ash, but remained a bush. The same goes for us. As we are set on fire with God’s love, we don’t become something or someone else, but remain who we are. In fact, we become more of our true self, we become more of the person God created us to become. Our potential becomes realized. God knows us more than we know ourselves. We can be a mystery to ourselves, and this mystery becomes solved the more we know Christ, and the more we allow Him to draw us to Himself.
     This is why the Fathers of the Church have made the connection of the burning bush to Our Lady. When we allow God to draw us closer to Himself, when we become more enflamed with His love for us, we do not lose anything of ourselves. Mary did not lose anything about herself. She did not lose the integrity of her virginity by becoming the mother of Jesus.  She remained who she was, she was simply elevated, culminating in becoming the Queen of Heaven.
     This should help to focus what we are doing during Lent. Through our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving we do not become less of ourselves, as difficult as some of these things might be. We in fact become more of ourselves, more on fire with God’s love for us. We remain who we are, but God elevates us closer to Himself, as Our Lady was elevated. As Jesus said in the Gospel, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk. 12: 49)