Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church
(Exodus 11:1-12:14; Matthew 12:1-8)
Thirteen years ago Blessed John Paul II wrote an apostolic letter entitled, “The Lord’s Day.” In it he tried to awaken Catholics to the glory of reserving one day a week for prayer, family, and leisure. He also challenged the secularizing idea of weekend which stretches a day for giving thanks in beloved company into two days or more of pursuing personal ambitions. The letter is vintage John Paul: intensely human, deeply reflective, and devoutly holy.
In the Gospel reading today Jesus provides us with his own reflection on the Sabbath. Of course, for him it is the very end of the week, not its beginning. As in Orthodox Jewish communities today, the Sabbath in Jesus’ time is rigorously regulated: no cooking, no walking beyond what amounts to a kilometer, no jumping or handclapping. But observance of the Sabbath was not always so strict. Before the Babylonian Exile the people were more relaxed about keeping the Sabbath. From today’s passage it can be said that Jesus prefers the more flexible interpretation.
Do we feel a twinge of guilt when we stop at Wal-Mart on the way home from church or go to the office for a few hours on Sunday evening? It would not necessarily be unhealthy if we did. We cannot say that such actions are inherently sinful. Indeed, Jesus defends similar deviations from the norm in today’s passage. But still we should not let Sunday go by without giving primary consideration to Jesus. He is, after all, “Lord of the Sabbath.”
Showing posts with label Lord's Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lord's Day. Show all posts
Homilette for Tuesday, February 6, 2007
(Genesis 1-2)
Although their customs are changing, Italians have a lovely saying reserved for Fridays. They wish one another a “Buona Domenica!” The words mean simply, “Have a Good Sunday!” Since Sunday in Italy is preeminently the day on which families come together at mama’s table, the words express their hopes that colleagues enjoy their meal with parents, sisters, brother, nephews, nieces as well as children, aunts and uncles. Of course, traditionally Italians go to church on Sunday and this custom has not been completely lost. So “Buona Domenica” also gives hope that the people will find the meeting with God and neighbor at Sunday Mass satisfying.
The reading from Genesis lays the foundation for our Sunday observances. On this day, it says, the Lord rested from all the work He had done in creation. Of course, Genesis refers to the Sabbath, which is the seventh day or Saturday. Christianity changed the day of rest and worship to Sunday out of deference to Christ’s resurrection. But it meant to retain the same kind of release from daily activity that the Jews have observed on the Sabbath since antiquity. Perhaps Americans, who have made work less back-breaking although just as absorbing as planting fields, are the leading culprits in both stretching Sunday’s rest into the two-day weekend and then cheating by working on both days.
In his pastoral letter entitled “The Lord’s Day” Pope John Paul II lamented how the joys of the Sunday – rest, family, worship – were being turned into frenetic weekend activity around the world. The beloved Pope urged Catholics to resist this temptaion. He believed that we can please God more faithfully and enjoy life more fully by praying, relaxing, and reuniting with the family on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
Although their customs are changing, Italians have a lovely saying reserved for Fridays. They wish one another a “Buona Domenica!” The words mean simply, “Have a Good Sunday!” Since Sunday in Italy is preeminently the day on which families come together at mama’s table, the words express their hopes that colleagues enjoy their meal with parents, sisters, brother, nephews, nieces as well as children, aunts and uncles. Of course, traditionally Italians go to church on Sunday and this custom has not been completely lost. So “Buona Domenica” also gives hope that the people will find the meeting with God and neighbor at Sunday Mass satisfying.
The reading from Genesis lays the foundation for our Sunday observances. On this day, it says, the Lord rested from all the work He had done in creation. Of course, Genesis refers to the Sabbath, which is the seventh day or Saturday. Christianity changed the day of rest and worship to Sunday out of deference to Christ’s resurrection. But it meant to retain the same kind of release from daily activity that the Jews have observed on the Sabbath since antiquity. Perhaps Americans, who have made work less back-breaking although just as absorbing as planting fields, are the leading culprits in both stretching Sunday’s rest into the two-day weekend and then cheating by working on both days.
In his pastoral letter entitled “The Lord’s Day” Pope John Paul II lamented how the joys of the Sunday – rest, family, worship – were being turned into frenetic weekend activity around the world. The beloved Pope urged Catholics to resist this temptaion. He believed that we can please God more faithfully and enjoy life more fully by praying, relaxing, and reuniting with the family on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
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