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July 18, 2008
On the Importance of Not Working
(Tim Jones)
"...but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates."
- God to Moses, Exodus Ch. 20
" 'Yo ho, my boys.' said Fezziwig. 'No more work to-night. Christmas Eve,
Dick. Christmas, Ebenezer. Let's have the shutters up,' cried old
Fezziwig, with a sharp clap of his hands, 'before a man can say Jack
Robinson.' "
- Fezziwig, in Dickens' A Christmas Carol
I think we forget, sometimes, that God invented Saturday. It was His idea.
I love Dickens' A Christmas Carol - always have - and I love when Fezziwig (Scrooge's old boss) jovially and emphatically insists that Dick and Ebenezer knock off work right now and join him and all his family and friends in an evening of raucous merrymaking. His attitude is, "It's Christmas Eve! What are you doing still working?".
Who wouldn't give their eye teeth for a boss like that? One who cheerfully orders you to take a day off, relax and have a party on his nickel? We can't even seem to take time off very well anymore. There is always some chore that insinuates its way into our downtime. Even outside of our normal work, our lives are so crowded with activities that taking a whole day off every week to really do nothing seems lazy and irresponsible. We often look at Sunday as not much more than an obligation to go to church. Another chore on top of all the others. But God knows us much better than we know ourselves. We need time to do nothing in particular. We need to carefully plan some time when we have no plans, and guard that time like a mother badger. That time ought to be on Sunday.
There was a time when Christians took the idea of the Sabbath more seriously, but many got that wrong, as well. I remember reading one of the Little House books (by Laura Ingalls Wilder) and particularly a description of a typical Sunday; the family went to church, of course, but afterward they were allowed to do nothing except sit or perhaps read, but then only the Bible. Even the little children must simply sit. Playing, running, whistling or even kicking one's legs was considered irreverent and inappropriate for the Lord's Day. I think maybe that was even more wrong-headed than our own slovenly approach.
It seems to me like we ought to plan our divinely mandated play day with more emphasis on play. I even kind of like the way the weekend has expanded into two days, paying homage to the old Sabbath and celebrating the Lord's Day, too. Hey, I'm for that. Count me in. Why, when we think of God's command to "do no work", must we imagine Him with a scowl? Jesus isn't a Puritan, keeping an eye out for anyone having too much fun.
I prefer to imagine Him sounding more like Old Fezziwig, saying "Yo ho, my boys! No work today, it's Sunday!"
Posted by Tim Jones in Sunday Obligation | Permalink
Comments
Or perhaps he's somewhere in between? :-)
Posted by: Kasia | Jul 18, 2008 12:14:56 PM
Well, I can see where God might scowl at those who see the Sabbath as only a bothersome interruption of their schedule. It constitutes not only a lack of reverence but also a lack of gratitude. I might scowl, too, if I gave a party for a friend and the guest of honor blew it off because he/she was "too busy".
One might answer, "Yes... you *are* too busy."
Posted by: Tim J. | Jul 18, 2008 12:26:45 PM
We try our darnest to avoid manual work on Sunday. Some can't be let go, of course-- meals must be prepared, dishes must be washed, etc. But the lawn-mowing can always be done on Saturday or Monday, as can the shopping. We do try to make it a family day, either relaxing in each other's company, or less often, an outing or a hike. It's also a day for hospitality-- if we're having friends over for dinner, I'll push for Sunday as often as possible.
Posted by: Margaret | Jul 18, 2008 2:37:43 PM
During an especially hectic time we were privileged to be invited to a Sabbath Seder by Jewish friends. For a few hours it was an oasis of tranquility and refreshment.
It is difficult to keep sane and well without keeping one day of the week differently from the others.
Posted by: Leo | Jul 19, 2008 1:09:59 AM
Two thoughts:
I once had a priest who thought that the NFL was sacrilegious due to having it's games on Sunday. I would have argued the point, but the Bucs were coming on.
Tim's comment reminds me of the Tampa newscaster who would sign off his fishing reports with "If you're too busy to fish, your just too busy". Before he passed away, I spent many a Saturday morning was spent on the lakes and bays of the Gulf Coast with my Dad. I think that fits right in with what God was getting at.
Have a Great Day,
Statman
Posted by: Statman | Jul 19, 2008 9:22:10 AM
Some people have also traditionally viewed Sunday as the day to practice good works as a family, for example, to visit a relative in a nursing home or someone who is ill or doesn't get out much. Or to call on an elderly or lonely family member or acquaintance in their own home, to invite them out for a stroll or give them a ride to church and invite them for a bite to eat afterwards. Maybe to do some yard work for them. Or to make a phone call or write a letter to long distance relatives or friends who may be ill or lonely or neglected.
All this can be done after attending Mass, and while preserving the peace of the day
Posted by: Marion (Mael Muire) | Jul 20, 2008 6:42:29 AM
I have questions in my mind about keeping the Sabbath. I have heard it argued that it is not a fundamental matter of natural law like not stealing is--because it was not given down as law earlier to Noah in the Noahide law. I wonder what other people think of that.
Posted by: Owen the Wise | Jul 20, 2008 3:04:41 PM
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