It is a well acknowledged fact that the Lord’s Day, Sunday, should be kept holy. As one of the Ten Commandments, its significance is paramount.
Yet, how often we neglect this.
Certainly, we may view Sunday as a day of rest – from the working week – but it should also be a day set aside for the Lord’s work.
And what is the Lord’s work?
Sanctity, redemption – or the pursuit of – which begs the question: how do you spend your Sundays?
I know, confronting right?
Earlier this year my husband heard a homily, delivered by a permanent deacon in our diocese, on keeping the Sabbath holy. He was so inspired that he came home that night and spoke at length – quite unusual for my hubby – on the topic.
Straightaway we made changes.
Despite the relative ease of grabbing a few things from the shop, or filling up the car on the way home from Sunday Mass, we no longer do this.
On Sunday, we do not work, and do not cause others to work either (of course there are many occupations where this is necessary and these are rightly exempted). One simple example is that the after Mass cuppa, an important part of Catholic fellowship, takes place at our house, rather than a café, with food prepared the day before.
But there are other examples.
Our eldest, Master 8 was enrolled in Auskick this year. It began with training on Thursday afternoons, though after a few weeks, we learned that the games would be played at 8.45am on Sunday mornings.
Now, we could have changed our regular Mass time to accommodate this, or split our family into two groups for Mass attendance, but we didn’t.
Instead we talked, and prayed, about it and sat down with Master 8 to explain that, this year, he would just attend the Thursday afternoon training so that Sunday was left free for the Lord.
To his credit, he accepted this happily and towards the end of the season the coach, who was very respectful of our situation, made sure we knew about a Friday night game which we all attended and watched Master 8 kick his first Auskick goal.
Even our regular television habits have changed on a Sunday. Once filled with AFL telecasts that hubby thoroughly enjoys, our Sunday preference has become more family, and spiritually centred activities. We might invite another Catholic family around for a cuppa, watch a DVD on the life of a Saint or simply spend the day together as a family, fostering quality time together.
Meals are simple and low fuss, often leftovers or a simple sausage in bread style repast, and a much more measured and peaceful approach is aspired too.
To some our approach to Sundays may be too austere. But, between the two of us, we felt that if we did not show our children the significance of Sunday now, it might be lost amidst the din of our secular culture.
And if we’re not prepared to teach them now – who will?
I’d encourage you to evaluate your approach to Sunday too and see if there is anything you can tweak, however small, to ensure that God is the focal point of your day – not swept aside once your Mass obligation is fulfilled.
Keep the Lord’s day holy – and your family will nudge closer to holiness too.
Share any ideas you have, or things you currently do, to keep Sundays holy, in the comments!
Originally posted 2016-09-28 15:00:13.