The Sabbath, A Time to Rest

The liturgical season of Ordinary Time seems an appropriate one in which to encourage your parish community to reclaim full observance of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the first thing God sanctified.

"God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good… So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation."  [Genesis 1:31;2:3]

In the 21st century, the concept of a Sabbath rest sounds unrealistic. It is however, a practice from Old Testament times and of the early Church. The Third Commandment calls for followers to keep the Sabbath holy. People are familiar with the call to community and Mass on Sunday – some even describing it in terms of Sunday obligation. In Deuteronomy where the commandments are individually addressed, the directive continues,

"Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work…"   [Deuteronomy 5:12–14ff]

Complexity and confusion come about as the result of the economic requirements for many to work on the Sabbath. Employers often refer to the reality of supply and demand. As long as people demand products and services, workers are needed to meet these demands. Our Holy Father has spoken out against such dangers of consumerism.

"All of us experience firsthand the sad effects of this blind submission to pure consumerism: in the first place a crass materialism, and at the same time a radical dissatisfaction, because one quickly learns—unless one is shielded from the flood of publicity and the ceaseless and tempting offers of products—that the more one possesses the more one wants, while deeper aspirations remain unsatisfied and perhaps even stifled." [On Social Concerns, #28, 1987]

One positive effect that the Church recognizes with the call for rest from work is that such rest benefits the human spirit itself. It allows time to regroup, to connect with the Creator in a peaceful way. It also means that time away from work encourages better family communications.

Encourage parishioners to find ways—even small ones—to observe a Sabbath rest. Maybe it can’t even happen on the actual Sabbath—Sunday. However, small steps lead to big rewards. If people start setting aside a specific time to rest, and succeed with that, they can move on to bigger challenges.

Since you are also a member of the parish community—and one who cannot easily observe a Sabbath rest on the day itself, remember to set aside a special time during the week when you, too, can be quiet with the Lord.

As Ordinary Time occupies most of the liturgical year, it provides opportunities for parishes to reflect on their community and the many ministries within it. The following resources offer liturgical activities to support your adult faith formation program.

Additional Materials

Seasonal Celebrations Series

Each guide includes five seasonal celebrations exploring discipleship in adult faith.

Seasonal Celebrations: Through the Year of Matthew
Looks at Liturgical Year A with session plans for every level including intergenerational.
Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725).

ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36687-5

Seasonal Celebrations: Through the Year of Mark
Looks at Liturgical Year B with session plans for every level including intergenerational.

ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36688-3

Seasonal Celebrations: Through the Year of Luke
Looks at Liturgical Year C with session plans for every level including intergenerational.

ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36689-1

Seasonal Celebrations CD

ORDER NUMBER: 1-57999-325-7