Sabbath Time

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy. (Third Commandment)

We are to fear and love God so that we don't despise God's Word or preaching, but instead keep that Word holy and gladly hear it and learn it (Luther's Explanation in his Small Catechism).

The word Sabbath means to "cease and desist" and we all know that it is to be a day of rest, in the pattern of God's resting on the seventh day of creation. But Luther focuses in more on what to do on that day, rather than what not to do. We are to keep the Sabbath by hearing the Word, learning about it, and listening to it proclaimed in "real time," for us today, in the sermon.

What if we miss a Sabbath--must we wait till the next Sunday to keep it? No! Sabbath time is non-linear--it occurs where God and the world intersect. Thus, Monday can be the Sabbath for you--or a walk in the countryside, or a crisis moment in your life. Any time we come before God is Sabbath--as long as we share it in community with others (because Sabbath isn't an individual kind of moment.)

That said---you should still make every effort to get to worship on Sunday. It is there where you can keep the Sabbath in the company, and with the support of, the faith community.
It is there you can hold up your beliefs to the mirror of scripture, tradition, and mutual conversation. A faith not tested like this is in danger of creating itself. It becomes John-ism, or Cindy-ism--whatever you believe is fine. (Thanks to Rev. Walter Bouman for that insight). In this way keeping the Sabbath is keeping the faith. And it is keeping it holy too--in that it is handled with reverence and honor and awe due it.

When do you experience Sabbath time? For me, this week, it came after a lovely day off, last night after dinner talking with Lisa about some of the plans I have for ministry at Messiah. The Word that came to me was from Sunday's reading - "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." To me that meant to plow ahead, and don't worry so much about what has passed--keep your eye on the prize, as St. Paul says!

Sunday's Sermon - Vote for Me and I'll Set You Free follows in the next post--for those whose Sabbath still needs keepin'.


Pastor Tom