Sunday Special: Reclaiming the seventh day.

In the Jewish tradition, Shabbat is roughly 25 hours of rest from a few minutes before the sunset on a Friday night to sunset on Saturday. In Catholic world, the day of rest get shifted to Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, but the premise is the same. Both traditions take their origins from Genesis and they echo the story of Creation:

And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work he had done in creation. (Genesis 2:2-3)

Think about, if God, who is Almighty and All-powerful needed a day of rest, how much more we, mortal creatures, need a day to rest and replenishment. This is why is when God has given Moses the Ten Commandments, the necessity of imitate God in His pattern of work and rest:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. (Exodus 20: 8-11)

The Jewish celebrations of Sabbath follow certain rules as to what sort of activity is permissible, with 39 major categories and many more subcategories of labour which is prohibited on Shabbat. For Christians, the celebration of Sunday replaces that of Sabbath. As described by St Ignatius of Antioch:

Those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death.

Although as a Christian I am not bound by the strict rules of the Old Covenant, I think it is beneficial to reach to the Jewish heritage. This is especially so given that the Catechism of the Catholic Church is really thin when it comes to giving directions as to Sunday celebrations:

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord's Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. (...) 

2187 Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord's Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

This is not particularly helpful. I know Jesus wasn't very fond of rigid rules and He criticised pharisees many times for making the Law unduly burdensome for the people, but I would like some more direction on celebrating Sunday beyond going to Church and not working. I try to do spiritual reading each Sunday and go for a walk, but how else could I be giving glory to the Creator? It was only in readings coming from the Jewish tradition that I've found some really useful pointers. Such a rich spirituality there

How else express glory in the presence of eternity, if not by the silence of abstaining from noisy acts?

Noisy acts... So many of them in my life. Checking media feeds, messages, keeping busy with this and that. I've come to believe that noise and busy means productive and fulfilled, but there is no direct relationship between these. In fact, I increasingly find myself much happier and more efficient when at work when I unplug at a certain time. So my Sundays become sacred now. The time when work doesn't need to be done. It can wait until Monday morning. If it couldn't wait, I would have done it already.

So no hoovering, checking email, washing up, cleaning the bathroom, dealing with dirty laundry. This pile of homework probably doesn't need to be marked on that Sunday afternoon either. Instead, let's finally play the piano, read something spiritual, listen to a good homily, visit a friend (or host a tea party). For me the seventh day is about growing in love of God and neighbour. Admittedly, every day should be about it, but Sunday should be dedicated specifically to this end. This is when I do not need to worry about making ends meet, sorting little things out, making appointments, applying for jobs and taking care of the house. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25) Six days in a week I spend taking care of the temporal life. One day in the week for life eternal seems not sufficient anyway when we compare this short earthly life with eternity. Quite pathetic actually when you think about it.

But I am working hard on reclaiming at least this seventh day as my day of rest and being with the Lord. As a day when my mind, body and spirit does not need to rush, but can just go on at least a metaphorical stroll. When I can be still in the presence of the Almighty.