Nehemiah was a Jewish layman who was devoted to God and who longed to see God's law kept by his people. Through Moses, the Lord had commanded the ancient Israelites "to keep holy the sabbath day" - that is, to set aside a particular day each week especially for worship and rest (see Ex 20:8¬11). So Nehemiah rebuked the residents of Jerusalem for treating this sacred day like any other by working at their normal business (see Neh 13:15-22).
Scripture suggests that a regular day of rest is actually part of the "rhythm" of creation. In the poetic language of Genesis, God himself is pictured as "resting" on the seventh day (Saturday) after creating the world, an example we are to imitate (see Gn 2:1-3; Ex 20:11). Just as importantly, the Lord insists that we should give the same privilege of rest to family members, employees, guests, and even laboring animals (see Ex 20:10; 23:12).
Today the Church continues to call us to a weekly Sabbath. But in honor of Jesus' resurrection on a Sunday, this first day of the week is now our time for rest and worship - what the early Christians named "the Lord's day" (see Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2;,Rv 1:10).
Those who take the Sunday Sabbath seriously have found, it a welcome respite. In a society often driven by a compulsion to work, produce, and succeed, a weekly day when we stop all that ("Sabbath" comes from a Hebrew word meaning "to cease") provides a humbling reminder: We're not the ones who keep the world turning. God is.
What should we avoid doing on the Sabbath? "On Sundays and other holy days of obligation," the Catechism teaches, "the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the ap¬propriate relaxation of mind and body (cf. CIC, can. 1247)" (2185).
Isn't work on Sunday sometimes unavoidable? The Catechism continues: "Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. [But the] faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life and health" (2185).
I have been thinking a great deal about my experience at Reconciliation this past Saturday. I felt an intense and unexplainable urge to go and confess my sins when I woke up that morning. I try to go every six weeks or so, but this was no routine visit to the priest for me. I needed to unburden myself of the numerous venial sins I had committed since I last participated in this Sacrament.
Purest Gold: God's Refining Fire in our Lives »
After salvation, many young Christians wonder if there's anything more to their newfound faith than just the security blanket of "being a Christian." Time and time again, God shows himself as a "refiner," and our lives are as gold. God started leading me in this study to understand what He was doing in my life, as well as in the lives of others.
Picking up my pen to write this column, I couldn’t imagine how time flies. Since the last publication of this column I have gone through a lot, especially the loss of my dear mother to whom I dedicate this article. Not only her, but seems I lost a whole generation of my close family.
How to Achieve Business Excellence »
“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before Kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” Proverbs 22:29
Spiritual Development for our Youth »
Most of us youth in today's fast moving world are easily thrown off by difficulties and worries.
The theme of conversion is a thread that runs all through Lent, but conversion takes on different aspects throughout the phases of Lent. The first two and a half weeks focused on the interior turning of hearts; the liturgy urges the faithful to reflect and examine consciences thoroughly.
Saint Josephine Bakhita »
Feast Day: February 8
Patron Saint Of: Sudan
Saint Josephine Margaret Bakhita was born around 1869 in the village of Olgossa in the Darfur region of Sudan. She was a member of the Daju people and her uncle was a tribal chief. Due to her family lineage, she grew up happy and relatively prosperous, saying that as a child, she did not know suffering.
Catholics Must Fast More Intensely This Lent»
The Norbertine Canons of St. Michael's Abbey have created this digital Lenten retreat so that you can journey through this holy season alongside them. If you want to have one of your best Lenten seasons yet, join us in our Lenten Program "The Great Fast" - https://theabbotscircle.com/the-great-fast-join
When Your Faith Is Put to the Test - Bishop Barron's Sunday Sermon»
Friends, we come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice Isaac at God’s command.
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