Shabbos: No Rules, No Worries

A Collect for Saturdays

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world didst rest from all thy works and sanctify a day of rest for all thy creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to thy people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord.     Amen.

Jesus said (Mark 2:27) the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. He is speaking to those who make the Sabbath a fetish of special rules and obsession with not breaking one. The Sabbath is not apart from Creation but part of it, integral with life, God’s gift of regular rest in a life and world that never stops working, stewing, fretting, worrying, solving. Sabbath is God’s mandate to give it up and take a break.

Wednesday and Thursday and Friday from dark to dark I worked on financial aid applications for Holy Nativity students, nearly complete but not quite, several hours of detail work yet to do before the committee meets; but not today. Linda cleaned up around the pool area and tool house and still not finished; but not today. One or the other of us bound to the house for the safety and wellbeing of my mother; but not today. A CNA is coming to stay with her: Linda and I will get out for whatever we want to do. Buddy Gandy’s for mullet. HNES for Sunday School prep. Home Depot for paint and browse. A ride in the Regal. We don’t have to sit here forbidden to lift a finger because it’s Sabbath; because it’s Sabbath we get to do whatever we want. It’s not a day of rules; it’s a day of no rules. No rules, no worries.

What did God do on that first Sabbath? Whatever He wanted. Just so with us! Blessed be our God. Forever and ever. Amen!

Shabbos: from sundown on Friday until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday evening, a time to stop and rest, to lay aside for the moment whatever occupies us and enjoy, enjoy. 

TW+