Labor Day, Rest Day

Women of Faith:

I have often wondered why it is easier to play on a holiday, schedule a vacation, shop, golf or watch a ballgame, than it is to attend church on Sunday. When I was growing up there were very few stores open on Sunday. Only the workers who worked in hospitals and emergency crews worked to save lives. I think we had it figured out “back then” according to today’s gospel.

“On a certain Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the Sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him. But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up and stand before us." And he rose and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" Looking around at them all, he then said to him, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was restored. But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.” Lk 6:6-11

Jesus says that we should only work if what we are doing is to do good, rather than evil.

What good are we doing with our Sabbath days? Are we working to serve others, or are we working to serve ourselves—to make our lives “better” by increasing our earthly riches, instead of our heavenly riches?

Dear God: Thank you for allowing me a day of rest and for giving me time off from work. Thank you for giving us the “servants” in our lives. Help me to make time for you on Your Holy Day. Help me to honor your law, to keep Holy the Sabbath. Amen.

Blessings on the rest you find on God’s Day and this Labor Day.

Charlotte