My Thoughts on 17/07/2020

The Pharisees at the time of Jesus seemed to be putting too much emphasis on what is forbidden on the Sabbath. They complained to Jesus about the behaviour of the disciples who were eating the grains of wheat plucked from the field on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day of rest. When most manual workers were slaves granting them a day of rest was a great blessing.

In the story of creation God rested on the seventh day, and called it holy. Jonathan Sacks writes in his book, Faith in the Future, “the Sabbath is our moment of eternity in the midst of time. Within the system of the week, it creates a delicate rhyme of action and reflection, making and enjoying, running and standing still. Without the pause to experience family, community and God, we risk making the journey while missing the view”

Let us thank God for the holy day of rest each week. May we remember to keep God at the centre of that day.