How to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy (2)

Although, as I said, I am not providing a list of "you can do this" and "you cannot do that" for the Christian Sabbath, I will lay out some basics so you can make the right choices. Remember, the Church realizes that no two situations are the same, so we each need to apply some wisdom to our circumstances. If we begin with the proper understanding of what the Church is concerned with, then it will make it easier to see what is right and wrong.

The prohibition to "work" on the Sabbath is not really about how much exertion we perform (if it was, then the Pharisees were right about the Jewish Sabbath--and Jesus made it clear that was not the case). There are a number of well-meaning Catholics who have gotten the third commandment wrong (both too loosely and too strictly). As our Lord said, "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath". God gave it to bless us, not to restrict us to the point of legalistic exasperation or to throw us into the chaos of forgetting Him. Thus, the prohibition is to prevent us from making the Lord's Day common like the rest of the days of the week. I used to say to my children, "if you were to wake up at any point on Sunday, you should be able to tell it is Sunday right away". If you cannot, then you have not "kept it holy".

The work that we are forbidden to do is, firstly, anything that would hinder our worship of God. If we choose to do some work on the computer because we have a few extra minutes, it is not the amount of physical exertion that is the problem, but rather the fact that we have failed to "keep the Sabbath holy" and (as it says in another place) to "sanctify the day". It is a sacred day; set apart for the worship of God, and the normal work that we perform during the week should be set aside or we are bringing the common into the sacred and that will always lead to a corruption of the faith.

Furthermore, if our work during the week is so exhausting that we cannot go to Mass, we must consider the possibility that we have given it too much authority over our lives. Being "tired" every Sunday is not an excuse to miss Mass. Another effort that people choose to engage in, which is not really work, but can cause you to break the third commandment is sports. If going to or watching a sporting event (and it does not matter if it is pro or kid's events) keeps you from assisting at Mass, you are in grave sin. Sports has become an idol in the modern world, and there is nothing about sports that is more important than the worship of God. In fact, anything that you choose that keeps you from assisting at Mass, and having a proper restful day (other than necessary works of mercy) has become an idol.

We are forbidden to do any kind of "servile" work according to the Trent Catechism. That refers to the work that we must do in our duty before God, excepting only that work which is necessary for the normal responsibilities of our well being. In other words, it is not a sin to cook a meal, nor to drive to the Mass. The only servile work that is allowed on Sunday is those works of mercy that are approved by the Church (doctors, police, etc.). We usually summarize the idea of servile labor by referring to that by which we earn a living. Of course, this presumes that the work that Mom does in the home is supporting the work that Dad does outside the home, so she should seek to take that day off as much as possible.

Again, let us ask about those "work-like" activities that many people debate (like mowing the lawn). For all of these, we can ask the simple question: does it help you to keep the Lord's Day Holy and separate from the rest of the days of the week, or it is making Sunday just like the other days? If it helps, then it is acceptable. If not, then it is unacceptable. Even if it is a burden to do that task on another day, it should be done then because Sunday must be kept sacred. Then, of course, there are those that neither help or hinder the sanctity of the day: like tying your shoes--it needs to be done and is somewhat neutral.

Those few works which must be done for basic survival (like preparing a meal), are not breaking the commandment, but should be kept to a minimum of effort. Yes, Sunday dinner can be a grand event, but no one should be exhausted in preparing it (even if they enjoy it). The Lord's Day (and, as I mentioned before, all this applies to Holy Days of Obligation as well) is that day to rest from the normal day to day grind. It is a day wherein we can step away and leave those things for later (for only God can truly demand our time).

One more point to follow...