A Sabbath Year

While working through my Bible study a few months ago, I was reminded of the importance of the commandment to Keep holy the Sabbath day. For me, this commandment had turned into “go to Church on Sunday.” Perhaps that is how you’ve seen it, as well. After some reflection and prayer, I realized that it goes so much deeper than that.

Human beings were never meant to work at a relentless pace. We are made in the image and likeness of God. We are made with a desire for peace. I’ve read and heard so many variations of “I wish I had more peace in my life” over the last few years. How often do we seek peace in physical things like wine, exercise, or chocolate? Those things certainly all have their place in helping us find respite. But peace goes deeper. It requires prayer. It requires a quiet heart and mind. It requires keeping holy the Sabbath.

Countless times in the Bible Jesus retreats to be alone in prayer after a hard day’s work healing and evangelizing. (Ok, you could count the times he did this, but you get my point.) If the Son of God, the Messiah, our Savior knew the importance of pausing his good work to make time for prayer and reflection, why do we so often think the work we are doing requires us not to take breaks? I’m sure you are doing great things, but let’s be real—they are nowhere near as great as the things Jesus did.

He came to teach us. He came to lead us. He came to save us. And one of the things he taught us through his own example was the importance of rest.

Keeping holy the Sabbath certainly includes attending Mass, but how else should we be celebrating God’s day? I have a good friend who has chosen to have phone free Sundays. I know someone else who doesn’t check emails to keep Sundays work free. I have always thought of Sundays as needed family days, but as a stay-at-home mom I realized that every day is a family day for me. I have started prioritizing seeing friends on Sundays and finding some time to myself. Most of my Sundays are still spent with my wonderful family, but taking the break for myself is helping me to honor the Sabbath in a different way.

I am the kind of person who likes to do all the things, all the time. My prayer and reflection on keeping holy the Sabbath led me to realize that I may need a Sabbath year. For me, that looks like intentionally pausing more often to slow down the noise of modern life. I took a break in January from using Instagram and working on this blog. That break stretched from January through March. I realized that I needed mental rest, so I forced myself to take it. I’m ready to jump back in, but knowing that in this season of my life (a.k.a. the baby years) my focus will be first and foremost on my kids. I am truly looking forward to a year when I pause more often and resist the urge to work, work, work. Work is important, but so is rest.

So, what brings you joy? How will you spend your Sundays this year? I hope you, too, will find a way to make Sundays different from your everyday this year. I can’t wait to see what it does for you.