The season of Lent is a time in which we intentionally seek out connection with God as we join Jesus on the journey to the Cross. One way to do that intentional seeking of connecting with God is through Spiritual Practices. Two weeks ago, I taught you all Lectio Divina or Sacred Reading; and last week I explored Contemplative Prayer. This week I wish to rediscover an often-forgotten practice: Sabbath.
Sabbath is more than taking just a day a week off, or the day of worship, though those are two parts to the practice of Sabbath. Sabbath is first mentioned in Genesis 2, “And on the seventh day God finished the work that God had done and rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So, God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all work that he had done in creation.” (Gen 2:2-3) Rest from work! We rest because God rested! So, traditionally one way to practice Sabbath is to simply rest: take an afternoon nap or sleep in late on a time off. How do you take a rest?
Yet, Sabbath has more to it. To fully appreciate Sabbath, we need to know the Exodus story. The people of Israel were slaves in Egypt (Ex 1) under requirements of hard work. Their whole lives were work; even as Moses pleads for their freedom (Ex 5). So, when they finally are freed, the fourth commandment God gives to these former slaves is so important, “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God…” (Ex 20:8-10a) In this, Sabbath takes on a whole new dimension: affirming your blessedness as a human. It's a reminder that we are not machines only meant for work; rather, we are created for the opposite of work: Enjoyment. For people who know nothing but work, they don’t just need rest to regain a sense of wholeness in their humanity; because God is not just about giving life, but life to the fullest. Sabbath is joining God in appreciated creation and experiencing joy. Sabbath can be taking a walk. Sabbath can be sitting on a porch listening to the rain pitter patter on the ground as you read a good book. How do you enjoy life?
Another aspect of Sabbath is nourishment. In the laws that God gives the people of Israel after the 10 commandments we find this: “Six days you shall do work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have relief, and your homeborn servants and resident alien may be refreshed.” (Ex 23:12) In this understanding Sabbath is expanded once again from simply rest, to rest for appreciating creation, to rest for refreshment. Sabbath has this quality where it is meant to give us life. Sabbath can be baking some cookies or tilling the ground of a garden. Or Sabbath could even be sharing a meal where your body is nourished, and laughter is shared over a joke told many years ago. How are you nourished?
And lastly, Sabbath is an experience of worship. Sabbath gives us opportunities to share time with our maker, Saviour, and one who breathes life into us. Sabbath gives us chances to join as individuals and a community to thank God for all we have. In this week of Lent, I invite you to rediscover the practice of Sabbath as God invites you into times of rest, times of enjoyment, times to be nourished, and times to worship our Lord.