The Purpose of the Sabbath is to Keep Christ Present in Our Lives

Most of us are quite willing to recognize that God is there for us; that God saves our causes and sustains our lives day after day. In fact, as we grow older, we usually become more mindful that without God, we wouldn’t get through the scrapes we get ourselves into. Nor would we be able to get through the increasingly greater demands of this life. And in response, most of us grow more willing to offer our sacrifices to God, to bring our offerings. We are more likely to keep the Sabbath and to appreciate that God has reconciled us through the sacrifice of Christ’s death. As we grow older, we are more likely to persevere in the faith and to hold out hope in the Gospel message.

That describes a lot of Christians. But that brings a problem. What kind of sacrifice can we offer? What offering should we bring? Jesus tells us that retreating into obedience to rules isn’t it (Luke 6:1-5).  It isn’t about how perfect we are. Keeping the Sabbath and offering a sacrifice has more to do with finding Christ present in all that we do. It is about living our lives in faith and openness to what God calls us to do in the midst of our imperfections. We are called to offer what we can toward what is needed.

I think it’s important for us always to bring a heart that is at peace, intent on true re-creation of the whole person. It should always include Eucharist, but a spirit of outreach to our neighbor and time with our families as well. Whatever we do, should be done in the spirit of charity, inclusiveness, and true Christian joy. Joy comes from gratitude to God who has graced us with a beautiful world and opportunities for praise and reflection, activity as well as total relaxation. If we keep all this in mind, then Jesus will be truly the center and Lord of our Sabbath.

What is the purpose of the Sabbath?   The creation of the Sabbath followed on the heels of the creation of the world.  God took the time to step back and take satisfaction in what had just transpired.  In effect, He was setting a pattern for our lives to follow.   He knew that people needed a Sabbath in their lives to create rest and balance, a time to spend in worship of God and a preparation for the challenges of life ahead.   The purpose of the Sabbath is to help us:

*Relax:  In our harried and busy lives, we need a day set apart to take a deep breath, rest a little and take the time to be in the present and appreciative of the many blessings God has given us.

*Reflect:  We need the time to reflect on how God is working in our lives, as those moments are difficult to create during the busy week.

*Reconnect:  It is easy to lose sight of those who mean the most to us---our family, friends, and God.  We need to set apart time to invest in those important relationships.

*Refresh:  As we spend time in worship, we breathe in deeply God’s spirit, giving us life and energy for the upcoming week.

*Regroup:  As we look forward to the challenges of the week, a Sabbath can give us balance, centeredness and clarity.

*Renew:   Exhaustion and lethargy disappear as all of the disparate pieces of our life fall into place when a Sabbath is experienced.