WATCHWORD:
31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. […] 1 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 1:31-2:1-3
15 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. Exodus 31:15
Meditation:
God Rested I
God rested? Well, no wonder he was tired, look what He had done! Not only all that, but he would soon have two unruly children that would cause more things He would have to deal with. Just thinking about all that, makes me tired! He needed a day of rest, right?
Wait a minute, this is God, we’re talking about. Let’s think about this. Let’s consider this from the standpoint of our spiritual thinking, not our flawed human thinking. On the seventh day God rested from all His work. Contrary to how we understand the Scripture, God did create on the seventh day! Yes, He created a wonderful gift for all of us. He blessed us with a special day, Sabbath, which we typically, and maybe erroneously, think of as Sunday.
The Greek translation of the word Sabbath carries multiple meanings including taking ease, ceasing of work, and rest. In this translation, the word “worship” does not appear.
Shabbat is the most important holy day on the Jewish calendar, though it is kept every week on Saturday by observant Jews and some others. It is a reverent day, a day to worship God. The Jewish interpretation.
Shabbat is the original Hebrew word for our English word sabbath. It comes from the root Shin-Beit-Tav and means “to cease, to end, to rest.” The word is invariably linked to the seventh day after the six days of creation, and that is how we see it used in the Old Testament.
In Exodus, the penalty for violating the “day of rest” was death! Wow! I heard one pastor make the clear point that God set aside one day out of the seven in a week for a day of rest, stressing how important it is for our mental and physical health. Somewhere in his sermon he made reference to “working yourself into an early grave.” I guess that would be the modern day version of the death penalty.
We hear, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, in other words “set apart”. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but on the seventh day you rest.” The first thing that needs to be understood about this particular commandment is that the Sabbath is Saturday. Any time someone stands up on Sunday, which is called the Lord’s Day, and prays, “Bless this Sabbath,” they are a day behind or six days early.
Confused? Maybe I am splitting hairs, here. Most of us have a day of rest and it lines up with our time worshipping God (or maybe sport events), and I think that the God that planned all this and created us will look with kindness and understanding, as we thank Him for even the games we watch. But, respect that time of rest, it is for your own good, spiritually and physically. Amen.
Readings for the Second Week of Lent:
Genesis 15:1-12,17-18. Psalm 27. Philippians 3:17-4;1 Luke 13:31-35.
St. Patrick’s Day Tradition:
There are lots of traditions associated with St. Patrick’s Day, corned beef and cabbage, snacking on Irish potatoes, the shamrock or 3-4 leaf clover, but one of the most iconic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations is Chicago temporarily dyeing the Chicago River green using about 40 pounds of environmentally friendly dye.
Starting in 1955, city workers used green dye to help identify the source of sewage in the river, NPR reported. The inspiration to dye the entire river continued after Stephen Bailey, the business manager for the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union, noticed a plumber’s white overalls stained bright green. The tradition lives and the cost is now built into the city’s budget.
Closing Prayer:
Canticle of Brother Sun, St. Francis
Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord All praise is yours, all glory, all honor And all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made, And first my lord Brother Sun, Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him. How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars; In the heavens you have made them, bright And precious and fair. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, And fair and stormy, all the weather’s moods, By which you cherish all that you have made. All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire, Through whom you brighten up the night. How beautiful is he, how merry! Full of power and strength.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our Mother, Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces Various fruits with colored flowers and herbs All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon For love of you; through those who endure Sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, By you, Most High, they will be crowned.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape. How dreadful for those who die in sin! How lovely for those found in Your Most Holy Will. The second death can do them no harm. Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks, And serve Him with great humility. Amen.
