What does it take to keep the Sabbath holy?

Homily — 3rd Sunday of Lent — cycle B

Exodus 20:1-17

1 Cor 1:22-25

John 2:13-25

“The gift of Sunday: Nourish Your Light”

Know it or not, this is our theme for Lent AND Easter seasons. “The Gift of Sunday” is also a year long initiative set by the Archbishop.

We heard, in our first reading today, the Ten Commandments from the book of Exodus. The first three commandments, as you already know, are about our direct relationship with God. The rest regard our relationships with others.

Perhaps the linchpin that connects the first from the others is the third commandment. — “Remember to keep holy of the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God.” It is the linchpin because it connects us with God and our community and if we do it right then it will nourish our light and positively effect the relationships around us during the week.

We read in the first chapter of Genesis that God created in six days and rested on the seventh. We have based our seven day calendar on this belief. The Lord’s day takes pride of place in our week as we commemorate what God has done out of and through love for us. He created all that is good and has given it to us to care for, to nurture, and to return back to God as part of this love-given creation and as good stewards.

Now, laws are created for a reason. They are created to tell us how we SHOULD be living in our relationships — in this case with God and with others. Love God (first three commandments) love neighbor (4-10 commandments) as yourself.

Nourish your light. Sunday, the sabbath, is meant to nourish our light, to restore and rejuvenate our own “holy spirit” so as to bring that light/that spirit into the world — or as least our own part of the world — to bring that light into any corner where it might needed, to share that light of the love of God that has been given to us at our baptism to nurture and to share.

This Sabbath rest is for just this purpose and can be done in many ways.

Back in the day, 40-50 years ago (and, yes, I can remember back that far), it might have been easier. Most businesses were actually closed (it could even be hard to find a gas station that was open sometimes), the only thing on the 3 or 4 tv channels was church, bowling or polka dancing (and in the afternoon there were professional sports, which was the only day of the week that was on), youth sports didn’t exist on Sunday, and video games were not invented yet. Later in my life we got cable and an Atari system, but the day remained a day for family brunch, hanging out around the house with the family and Church activities.

Today, it is very different, but that doesn’t mean this day can’t be kept holy.

The idea is simple really — make this day holy and different from the rest/make it special. You might think some of my suggestions are crazy, but the idea remains the same — have a different mindset for the Lord’s Day so that rest and relationships will nourish your light for the week ahead and so that God takes center for at least part of the day.

If sports need to be played go as a family and make sure there is time for Mass. Find a time to go as a family (there are times from Saturday evening to Sunday evening every weekend throughout the archdiocese and even right here in Waukesha).

Try not to fall into the casual convenience of our commercial world. Get the things you need before this day or do without (if possible). (I will often be driving by Kwik Trip on my way home from Masses and think, “Boy, I sure would like a pizza” or “I need some milk for cereal or maybe eggs.” But these are things I can put off. I don’t NEED them. They can wait. And so they do.)

Going to a movie? What about sitting around with the family/your Domestic Church and watch a movie together on the couch with some homemade microwave popcorn or the before mentioned pizza (that you got the day before). Or pull out some board games or card games, or go for a picnic at the park, or play in the yard together. There are many options.

As you come to Mass, bring the best you that you are able both inside and out and prepare yourself for what you will experience. If you do this, you will experience the Mass in a deeper way (check out the readings, mentally prepare your offering for God, get there early so you can acclimate to the experience in which you are about to engage yourselves)

Don’t forget your Domestic Church. Plan to nurture your Domestic Church on this day. (Domestic church — your core fundament; those people who could be said are in your home or are your spiritual foundation) Spend time with them, talk about what your heard or experienced at Mass, get to know each other, have fun.

Is all this asking too much? For all that God has given us, can we not give back? Can we not take the time to recognize the gifts that God has given us, take the time to nourish these gifts, and return them back to God with increase? OR, at the very least can we not make Attending Mass a priority at some point during the sabbath. (1 hour at Mass = 1.68% of a week of hours)

It has been said, “If we don’t get Sunday right we will never get Monday right.”

Let’s be more intentional in keeping the Sabbath holy (and encourage others to do the same) and in recognizing the gift of Sunday and nourishing our light for the rest of the week