We all know that one of the Ten Commandments is to “keep holy” the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8). However, many of us as Catholic men struggle to understand what it means to observe or “keep holy” the Sabbath on Sunday, the Lord’s Day. It can be a source of guilt, if we think we are sinning by some of the activities we do on Sundays. The article below was adapted from the September 5, 2005 meditation in the The Word Among Us magazine. (Used with permission.)
The article emphasizes the importance of spending time on the Sabbath to get physically and spiritually refreshed. It also includes some questions for discussion by a Catholic men’s group. As you reflect on these words, ask the Lord for Godly wisdom to apply some of the ideas presented.
Bear in mind that the LORD has given you the Sabbath. (Exodus 16:29)
Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work. (Exodus 20:8-10)
Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27-28)
From the beginning, a day of rest figured prominently in Jewish observances. It was also a reminder to the Israelites that their time and land belong to God, and that just as He had been so good to them, they too were to show mercy and compassion toward the weak and destitute (Deuteronomy 15:12-15). Finally, it was a sign to them that they enjoyed a unique relationship with God.
Over time, the Sabbath became a way for Israel to maintain its identity amid the pagan world and a way of assuring that God’s people remained steadfast in faith and love. However, the observance of the Sabbath also became mired in legalities. It became so obscured that some scribes and Pharisees were actually enraged when Jesus healed a man with a withered hand one Sabbath (Luke 6:6-11). As Jesus had pointed out in other, similar situations, it seems that these religious leaders had forgotten that God wants “steadfast love and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6; Matthew 9:13).
What the scribes and Pharisees had forgotten most of all is that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). When God instituted the Sabbath, he was thinking of us. He knows how we are made, the toll life exacts from us, and what our most basic needs are. He knows that we need a regular time for rest and restoration, a time to draw closer to Him, and a time for recharging. It’s woven into the fabric of our being. Our culture recognizes this on a physical level. Spiritually, however, we are just as wanting, and this is exactly why God gave us the Sabbath.
So how do we “keep holy” the Sabbath? How do we get spiritually refreshed? The obvious ways are by attending Mass and receiving Christ in the Eucharist, by making time for extra prayer, and by refraining from unnecessary work. But there are other ways. Consider having a special meal and enjoying it as a family; spending the evening (or afternoon) together playing games; watching an entertaining and uplifting movie; or taking a walk. Also consider inviting some neighbors or friends over for dessert and a time of prayer together.
Whatever you do on the Sabbath, know that God wants to refresh you and draw you closer to him. So let this Sunday and every Sunday be a day of true Sabbath rest.
“Father, you alone are my security and salvation. Teach me and lead me in honoring the Sabbath, so that I may rest in you and learn more about who you are and what you desire of me.”
(Maurice Blumberg is Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. This article is part of NFCM's sponsorship of the Catholic Man channel. Contact NFCM at P.O. Box 86381, Gaithersburg, MD 20886 or e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org. Many thanks to The Word Among Us for allowing us to include in this article the September 5, 2005 meditation from the September 2005 Edition of their magazine.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Questions for Reflection/Discussion by Catholic Men
1. The article says that the Sabbath was a way “for Israel to maintain its identity amid the pagan world and a way of assuring that God’s people remained steadfast in faith and love.” In what way does this also apply to us as Catholic men?
2. The article goes on to say that “the observance of the Sabbath also became mired in legalities.” Why is this also a risk for us as well? What steps can you take so that Sunday, especially our attendance at Mass, are not legalistic, but are drawing us closer to the Lord for refreshment and a deeper experience of his love?
3. What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27)? What is your own experience in being refreshed by honoring the Sabbath on Sunday?
4. Using some of the ideas in the article, what are some steps you can take to make the Sabbath a day of rest and of physical and spiritual refreshment? If you are in a men’s group, share the fruits of implementing these steps at a future meeting.
