The Sabbath

Mark 2: 23 - 28

The Sabbath was made for man....

I wonder how many of us felt 'rested' last Sunday. I realized it was a really busy day for me and at the end of it all, I wonder if I did have any 'rest'. After my own church service, where I spoke, (being a 'filler in' when outside speakers are no available), I visited my former church. My son attended a youth class there, while I just caught up with friends in the fellowship hall (those who had been to the earlier service there). The hall was a 'busy' place......including many young people (those not in classes) milling around waiting for the Youth worship to start. A stall selling cookies as fund raising for a uniformed group....and endless chatter. Just dozens of people busy and occupied with many things, including some small groups meeting to plan things.

The afternoon was no more restful for me. I decided to send my car for servicing, as I reckoned the weekdays this week I would need to use it. Than a visit to my brother's to catch up and give my nephews birthday presents.

At the end of it all, I realized it was a 'busy' and tiring day. I was in fact really glad for Monday, when I had no clinic slot and I decided to stay in most of the day, resisting the urge to go out to get groceries (they could last another couple of days). Perhaps my Monday was more of a Sabbath, to catch up on prayer and reflection. But I realize that those who have a regular job do not have this luxury after their busy Sunday. I wonder how people cope with church ministry and their full time work in the marketplace.

"Keep the Sabbath holy" is a commandment which I suppose we have to understand in our particular contexts. Is being in church more than half the day (instead of sleeping in or going out to the mall), a way of honoring that commandment? Do we find the sacred in our Sunday practices?

Are we led to remember and celebrate God's goodness on this day, including the goodness of his work, both in creation and redemption? Maybe it is not so much what we do, but why we do it and how we find meaning through the do-ing.

Sabbath rest does not have to be taken on a Sunday. In church there are always things that need willing hands on a Sunday. As Jesus demonstrated here, withholding mercy and kindness in response to human need was not part of God's intention when he commands us to rest from unnecessary labor. Church ministries need to go on to serve the needs of the community. But in the end, there needs to be the deep assurance that in all the activity, we have 'kept the Sabbath holy'. And perhaps a time too, apart from all the activity to 'rest from unnecessary labor'.