By The Rev’d L Nguyen, All Saints Anglican Howick
Season: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Hebrews 12:18-29, Luke 13:10-17 (focus text)
From our readings this morning – I will be exploring ideas and concepts around Sabbath.
Consider the words in our Gospel reading
How do you already understand this word?
How does is resonate in your lives?
Where do you see it in the lives of others?
Oxford Languages Dictionary
A day of religious observance and abstinence from work, kept by Jewish people from Friday evening to Saturday evening, and by most Christians on Sunday.
“We observe the Sabbath as God has commanded”
Mirriam Webster dictionary
1: the seventh day of the week observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening as a day of rest and worship by Jews and some Christians
2: Sunday observed among Christians as a day of rest and worship
3: a time of rest
John van de Laar in his book The Hour That Changes Everything – How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be writes –
“A significant part of the practice of Sabbath is aligning ourselves with God’s rhythm. As rhythm organises a piece of music in time according to speed and pattern, so Sabbath organises our lives according to God’s sense of time – God’s tempo and pattern.
This is more than simply giving ourselves a breather or allowing ourselves time to rest so that we can launch back into our busyness with renewed vigour.
Sabbath is about learning to recognise the significance of moments in time. It is about learning to recognise God’s tempo and pattern for us, our community and our world, and it is about matching our pace with these eternal rhythms.”
Sabbath observance is inherently communal, rooted in the Jewish tradition of gathering for sacred assemblies and shared meals to commemorate God’s creation and redemption, a practice also seen in early Christian communities and reflected in the commandment itself.
The shift from the seventh-day Jewish Sabbath to Sunday as the primary day of Christian worship occurred gradually, rooted in early Christian practices commemorating Jesus’ resurrection on the first day of the week, and was solidified by factors such as Gentile inclusion, political expediency to distance Christianity from Judaism after the Roman suppression of Jewish revolts, and Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Milan in 321 AD, which established Sunday as a weekly day of rest and worship.
While Sabbath can also be a personal time of rest, the emphasis on gathering with family and community for worship, fellowship, and shared experiences underscores its communal dimension as a vital aspect of a group’s health and identity.
Yes, Sabbath may be personal, but it was never meant to be solely about an individual. It is in part an observance that a community does together and one that has clear implications for the making of a just and sustainable social order.
In healing this crippled woman on the Sabbath, and teaching that mercy is a Sabbath-activity, Jesus embodies the justice, grace and welcome of God’s unshakeable kingdom community. Luke 13:10-17
If our gospel reading offers us a Sabbath of activity of mercy, what else might be a Sabbath activity which Jesus embodies?
Jesus’ ministry and teachings embodied the spirit of the Sabbath by focusing on acts of mercy, compassion, and worship, rather than strict adherence to rest from all work.
He emphasized that the Sabbath was made for humankind’s benefit, to direct thoughts and actions toward God through worship and learning about His teachings.
His actions, particularly healing the sick on the Sabbath, demonstrated the Sabbath’s purpose to be a sacred day for spiritual focus, acts of mercy, and aligning with God’s ongoing work.
Who are those who have been crippled by the weight of the world’s unjust and inequitable systems?
How do we as a community stand for them?
How do you within your family or friendship groups stand for them?
How do you live sabbath moments for yourself?
How can we allow the Sabbath to become a healing and liberating experience for them and us?
A word of caution:
When we set high expectations that the sabbath will be “spiritual,” it becomes one more thing to do, continuing the addiction to productivity that is so common in our culture. Sabbath is invitation to God’s grace and love.
Sabbath is an invitation into God’s love for us, not a task to be done.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us continue to express our gratitude. With this gratitude, let us serve in a way that is pleasing to God with respect and awe, let us keep the Sabbath together.
Resources included
• Lectionary Resources: Proper 16C from Sacredise
• Sabbath is directed by Martin Doblmeier. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49Q6HEFraeo
• https://uscatholic.org/articles/202402/a-new-documentary-makes-a-case-for-reviving-the-sabbath/
Biblical and Historical Context
The Ten Commandments:
The commandment to keep the Sabbath was given to the community of Israel, not just to individuals, emphasizing its collective nature.
Leviticus 23:
This passage explicitly calls for a “sacred assembly” on the Sabbath, linking the day of rest to community gatherings.
Synagogue and Home:
Following the destruction of the Temple, the synagogue became a central place for communal Sabbath worship and observance.
Jesus’ Practice:
Jesus’ practice of sharing meals and attending synagogue on the Sabbath, as seen in the Gospels, highlights the communal aspect of this day.
Practices of Communal Sabbath
Shared Meals:
Families and communities gather for special meals on the Sabbath, which include traditional foods, songs, and prayers.
Family Time:
The Sabbath provides a dedicated time for nuclear and extended families to spend time together, share stories, and engage in activities like playing board games or going on outings.
Community Worship:
Congregational worship and sacred assemblies, such as Friday evening services like Kabbalat Shabbat in Jewish tradition, are central to the communal observance of the Sabbath.
Benefits of Communal Sabbath
Strengthens Community Identity:
Communal Sabbath practices nurture and maintain the unique identity of a people as “God’s people”.
Fosters Connection:
It provides an intentional rhythm for people to enter into enriching, life-giving relationships with one another.
Encourages Shared Joy:
The Sabbath is meant to be a shared joy, a time to rest and celebrate together, rather than just a solitary practice.
Teaches Love and Inclusion:
The Sabbath can be a prophetic act of learning to love and include others within the community, even those who are different or challenging.