For some reason, I am thinking about sabbath today. No doubt it is partly because I've been studying the Gospel for Sunday's sermon about Jesus being scolded for healing on the Sabbath. But, it is equally because I have been lingering on the front porch on this day off. It is a perfect day--amazingly cool for August, with the blue, blue sky with puffy white clouds, a refreshing breeze. Just the kind of day that calls me to put up my feet, read and dream, soak in--and be thankful for--the beauty.  

      And yet, duty calls, too. I can't sit too much longer. Particularly since I overdid it yesterday trying to get ahead so that I could sit on the porch today. But that hope evaporated with just one thoughtless stroke of a button. I touched "no" instead of "yes" when asked if I wanted to save my file. And away went a good hour or two of work that must be redone. Far more important things interrupt Sabbath, of course. This one is fixable, though those hours are gone.

      In the life of a priest, the things that intrude on a Sabbath day are more like important meetings that cannot be held at another time, calls to the hospital for a pastoral need, and--too often--just not getting the work done earlier in the week (a matter of planning and discipline, or just too many things happening in the same timeframe).

      This is true of all of us in our world today. Some need to work two jobs to make ends meet. Some are caring for family members when not at work. Even those of you who are "retired" are actively involved in important activities at work, in the community. How do we keep Sabbath?

      Mind you, I am not suggesting that we discontinue worshiping together on Sunday mornings. But when we are unable to set aside a regular full day, what are other ways that we can keep Sabbath? I'm thinking it is a matter of heart and mind more than it is a specific place or a duty. When can we put aside our lists? If we cannot let go of worries, maybe we can turn them into prayers. Sometimes particular places and rituals help. Other times, being mindful and making room for whatever comes our way can make these moments of Sabbath, too. Just by being deeply attentive and open.

     Well, I'm not sure I can return to the church office and make the redoing of my lost work a moment of Sabbath. But who knows?

     

See you in church!

Gloria+

God promises goodness and honour for God's people if they will act justly and honour the Sabbath.

Psalm 103:1-8: A song of praise and thanksgiving for God's forgiveness, healing and goodness.
Hebrews 12:18-29: Unlike the people of Israel who were afraid of God's appearing at the mountain, followers of Christ have been invited into God's grace and the joyous community of worship in Christ. We have received an unshakeable kingdom, and must be careful to listen to Christ's words, and worship God in thankfulness.

Luke 13:10-17: Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath, incurring the criticism of the synagogue leader. Jesus points out that everyone 'works' on the Sabbath, and that it is right and good that she should be freed.

Jesus spoke about his followers being "in the world but not of it". This was not a call to "otherworldliness" or to check out of the world as we wait for heaven. It is a reflection of the reality that as individuals and churches we face the daily temptation to adopt the broken values and practices of the world around us. It is a call to live the values and practices of God's Sabbath Kingdom within the societies and communities in which we find ourselves. It is all too easy for us to become driven by the same idols of success, wealth and convenience that the affluent sections of our global society embrace - and all too many churches and theological systems have done just this. But, if we are to be Sabbath/Kingdom people, we are to step out of this system, embracing rather the rhythms of justice - meaningful work, joyful rest, compassionate service, generous sharing, and a commitment to equity and compassion. In small but powerful ways we can change the world by living these values in our communities - by worshipping in venues of simple reverence; by adopting technology, practices and programs for their usefulness, not their "sexiness" or fashionableness; by sharing what we have with the people around us, rather than using our wealth to aggrandise ourselves; by using our influence in society to ensure protection for the most vulnerable and needy among us; and by working for a more equitable society using all the tools at our disposal, from votes to prayer. Who are those who have been crippled by the weight of the world's unjust and inequitable systems? How can we allow the Sabbath to become a healing and liberating experience for them and us?

 

The thumbnails and reflections excerpted from sacredise.com