# Remember the Sabbath Day
*2015-03-04*

> Bill Young reflects on the Fourth Commandment and the meaning of Sabbath rest in our modern lives, especially as we celebrate Sunday Mass.

## Scripture Reading

Today's reading comes from Exodus 20:8‑11: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your livestock, nor the alien residing in your towns. For six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

## The Original Purpose of Sabbath Rest

In the ancient world, the Sabbath meant a complete cessation of work—no shopping, no cutting grass, no cooking, no household chores. The commandment was a gift of peace, a time to step back from labor and recognize God’s creative love.

## Sabbath in Modern Culture

Today, consumer habits and societal changes have eroded many of those prohibitions. Many people now shop, run errands, attend sporting events, or even work on Sundays. Yet the Church preserves a vital remnant of Sabbath rest through the celebration of Sunday Mass.

## Finding Rest in the Eucharist

The Mass is a “sweet, healing, fortifying food for our souls.” By gathering for the Eucharist, we allow the humility of the hour to reverberate throughout the day. After Mass, we can set aside a portion of the afternoon or evening for a family meal or shared activity, letting God’s deepest peace and holiness fill our Sunday.

## Living the Sabbath Today

To honor the Sabbath, we might intentionally pause our busy schedules, limit commercial activities, and focus on prayer, family, and the liturgy. In doing so, we celebrate God’s creation and love with gratitude and reverence.

*The Sabbath invites us to pause, pray, and receive the Eucharist, allowing God’s peace to shape the rest of our week.*