Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are seven (7) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Third Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘Keep Holy the Sabbath.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2195.
To consider God’ Commandment to “keep holy the Sabbath” we should consider both ad intra and ad extra (inside and outside). We keep holy the Sabbath ad intra when we keep the Sabbath. We are to help others (ad extra) keep the Sabbath as well. We do this by not imposing without necessity anything which impedes others from keeping holy the Sabbath. We are not to lead others into temptation (cf. Matthew 6:13; 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 11:4; 22:40; 22:46). Imagine, if none of us went out shopping, dining… on Sunday all the shops, restaurants would close for the day. Honorable mention should be given to the God fearing folks at Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A who close on Sundays, based upon the Sabbath principle. As of 2005 Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain all retained laws requiring most stores to be closed on Sundays in view of the Christian Sabbath. So called “Blue Laws” which prohibit business from opening before noon on Sunday help all to keep the Sabbath holy. The seventh commandment, which we will examine in due course is related not only to not stealing, but also to diligence in work. Here we can see the interrelatedness of the various commandments of God. A further connection is highlighted by the privileged day for us to make our tithe (10% of our income) to God and His cause being the Sunday Sabbath. While our labors are sanctified, in part, by our tithe, this does not mean that we are to engage, unnecessarily, in servile labors on the Lord’s Day.
There are practical consequences of all this keeping holy the Sabbath. How many of us shop on Sunday, be it at the grocery, or the mall??? As a priest, I normally offer several Masses on each Holy Day of Obligation (Sundays and otherwise) in order to keep holy the Sabbath and help others to do the same (cf. Matthew 12:5). If after Holy Mass(s) offered in the morning or evening I go out for lunch or dinner in a restaurant, I need to be conscious so as to not impede the public worship the cooks, waiters and other staff are likewise obliged to offer. To only go to the restaurants of atheists or pagans does not necessarily evangelize them by our dining habits… Are there not six days on which we may trade (cf. Luke 13:14)?
What necessary things are required even on the Sabbath? Doctors, nurses, firefighters, police and military personnel all provide necessary and essential services toward the common good. Even these are to keep holy the Sabbath, and they do so, in no small part thanks to the Vigil Masses offered the night before whichever Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr