Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #32
August 6, 2023
Vacation Blogs 1 of 4
Sabbath Is For God
Each year I spend my summer vacation in August through the first Sunday of September. I really love this time away. It is my sabbath. I always find it to be refreshing and it recharges my energy. After such a time away I am once more ready and able to lead the busy fall schedule. I find this downtime very helpful in keeping myself from getting overwhelmed and, ultimately, burned out.
I believe that there is a reason that God mandated that we take a sabbath. Sabbath is good for us. Jesus himself said that the Sabbath was created by God to benefit humans. It is not to be a burden to us, but a joy. I think that it is a pity that so few people in our culture honor the Sabbath. It is good for us.
There are two aspects to the Sabbath requirement. The first is to do no work. The second is to dedicate the day to God. It is far too easy to get so wrapped up in our work that we neglect to take a Sabbath. It is just as easy to take a Sabbath day and dedicate it to our own leisure and to forget about God. For us to take a proper Sabbath, we must put aside work as well as to honor God.
Yesterday, I sat in the First Reformed Church in Wynantskill and had the chance to truly honor God. It is hard for ministers to really worship and honor God each Sunday as we scurry around to prepare and lead worship. It is a rare pleasure to sit and worship and honor God. I did this, and will continue to be a congregational worshiper during my vacation. It is quite energizing to hear someone else preach from a new perspective than the one I bring.
By the standards of Orthodox Judaism, my Sabbath really is not one at all. I started the day by cooking food; a violation if I was Orthodox and Jewish. I also drove my car, yet another violation. It reminds me of being in Jerusalem at the Western Wall during the Sabbath. One member of our group kept a written diary of our trip. She was asked to stop writing as writing is considered “work.” I began to take a picture of the Western Wall and was also asked not to do so. This is considered “work” also, even though photography is a hobby for me, not work.
My Sabbath also would not live up to my mother’s definition of Sabbath when I was in Grammar school. My sister and I were not allowed to go out and play on Sunday. We were to stay inside and read our Bibles. She felt that she was rather liberal in Sabbath. We were allowed to read our Bibles anywhere in the house. When she was a child she had to stay in her room to read her Bible each Sunday.
No, I don’t do Sabbath to my mother’s extent nor do I live up to the expectations of Orthodox Judaism. Yet, I found my Sabbath to be very refreshing. I did not work. I sat in the pew and worshipped. I enjoyed more time to simply “be” with God, family and friends.
Sabbath is good. I hope that anyone who reads this or listens to my podcast who does not honor the Sabbath will begin honoring it. The joy and refreshment that we experience will be ours.
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