JAN 2008

Greetings to all on 9 JAN 2008

Word for the Day
Shabbat - Hebrew for Sabbath

Quote for the Day
The goal of the gladiator is to keep his life; the goal of the Christian is to lose her life. [1]

Website for the Day
www.homefront.blogspot.com
This is Fajita’s blog; lots of good stuff to read. Actually, Fajita is a guy; maybe it should be Fajito’s blog?

Thought for the Day
The most hyped holiday season of the year has ended. Have you recovered? Are you still tired? Maybe not physically, but emotionally and financially tired. How about some well-deserved rest?

On the Sabbath day ADONAI rested, thereby establishing a pattern still practiced by adherents to Judaism. The principle is so widely recognized that it influences all phases of our life, including government and business. Those of you old enough to recognize the phrase “blue laws” can recall when Sunday really was a day of rest because there was nothing else to do. All the stores were closed! That changed as we became both a post-modern and a post-Christian nation. A few vestiges remain. Did you know that in Texas, car dealerships can only open six days a week? Most choose to close on Sunday.

Looking back on those days, I’m not sure that we got much more than physical and emotional rest from the routine of life. That’s good and necessary, but what about spiritual rest? The Jews of Jesus’ day were very fastidious about observing shabbat. They had rules to answer questions such as how far one could travel from home and what constituted work. Maybe they missed the point just as we have. When Jesus was rebuked for not “keeping” shabbat, his reply was, “Man was not made for the sabbath, but the sabbath was made for man.” [MAR 2.27]

Hear the word of the Lord:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [MAT 11.28-30]

When the crowd heard these words, they were drawn back to the original promise of rest. Jesus is using a remez (hint) to get their attention. In Exodus 33.14 and Jeremiah 6.16 the people were promised rest provided by ADONAI. In Isaiah 58.6 and Jeremiah 30.8 God also promised an easy yoke. The audience would have heard this not only as encouraging words but as a direct message from God. Jesus was claiming to be God.

He still promises rest for his followers. Not just the final gift of rest, but the regular ritual of rest whether it occurs on Saturday, Sunday or shifts from week to week depending on the work schedule. It is so difficult for us to “be still and know.” Instead, we feel compelled to explain to God how things should be. So, how do we enter that rest while still walking on this earth? I am no expert in either the theory or practice of sabbath rest, so I will offer some good advice from others:

> seek rest from daily occupation
> share with others in worship
> take time with God’s word
> engage in acts of compassion
> enjoy activities that refresh and renew the spirit [2]

It is my prayer that we can all find the shalom of God in this new year.

May God Bless
Mike Toole
Lori Moores, ed.

1. Mike Toole

2. An Invitation to Sabbath: Rediscovering a Gift, found on: www.pcusa.org/spiritualformation/sabbath.htm
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