Rest. God created it. He commands it—especially on Sundays: “But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates” (Ex 20:10 RSVCE). God, then, sets the day apart as holy: “for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it” (Ex 20:11).
How many of us work on Sundays (excluding first responders, public servants, and the like)? More automobiles are seen in grocery store parking lots on Sundays than often any other day during the week. This was not always the case. Growing up in Massachusetts, the “Blue Laws,” prohibiting businesses to be open on Sundays, were in full effect. Laws such as these were permanent fixtures in other states as well. As bored as I was as a teenager, Sunday was a blessed day of worship and leisure for families
Jesus and the Sabbath
Jesus enlightens us to the meaning behind God’s enactment of the Sabbath in Mark’s gospel. He says, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath” (Mk 2:27). What have we done, instead? We’ve acquiesced our God-sanctioned day of rest and nourishment in the faith for the sake of materialism and mammon. We are not created to keep up this relentless schedule. As human beings, we display the stress of this pace in a myriad of ways. Not embracing the Sabbath’s rest takes its toll on our minds, physical bodies, families, and on our relationship with God.
What Can We Do?
We can begin to untether our Sundays by giving ourselves permission to rest and experience its freedom. To correct the busyness that we’ve allowed to infiltrate our Sundays, we can look to the Israelites of Biblical times. They cooked, cleaned, and prepared everything necessary for the Sabbath day ahead of time. Come the Sabbath, they truly rested. Likewise, we can try to plan our shopping, cleaning, and other works during other times during the week. Leisure activities such as reading, resting, playing with one’s kids, etc., enable us to truly experience rest for the mind and body.
Further Direction
Often, growing up, our family would take Sunday drives together. My father would take the car and head north, south, east, or west. We experienced the beauty of nature while witnessing the changing of seasons. We would talk, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company. As an adult, I am guilty of having worked many Sundays outside the home for financial reasons and to alleviate child care needs during the week while my children were growing up. Always a concern to me, I began to change my schedule as I was able.
Though it’s certainly easier without little children any longer at home, I consciously refrain from shopping and other household tasks that I can do at another time. I take a break from these so I can focus more on the peace and beauty of the day and being with family and friends. I remember that it’s those “Sunday drives” with my family that stand out most to me as blessed reprieves and gifts on Sunday.
Take back your Sabbath. It comes replete with pre-ordained grace from God to permeate your life and the lives of your family members. Its commanded obedience is for your benefit. Remember, it was made for you—for your soul, your mind, and your body by Almighty God.
