"Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy" says the 4th Commandment. What does that mean in this day and age?

Keeping the fourth Commandment was so central to the Old Testament law that Jesus is criticized for healing on the Sabbath. Now the Sabbath is almost forgotten. Everything happens on the Sabbath - soccer games, marathons, football games, early bird sales… the Sabbath has become the time when everything but rest, worship and quietness happens. Then on Monday everyone complains that they are tired.

Jesus reestablished the Sabbath's true meaning when he said, "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." (Mk.2:27) What Jesus was saying is something that we need to think about, which is: "God knows we need rest. God desired for us to slow down, remember who we are and whose we are. The Sabbath is a deep need for all of us. Many of our personal problems could be solved or helped by making time for daily reflection and prayer.

Sabbath time in community is what we do best at St. Augustine. Taking the Sabbath seriously is a discipline. It is not easy. We like being busy, entertained and distracted. We've lost the ability to be quiet for a period of time. We've bought into things other than worship as a primary value. But, there is great wisdom in the Ten Commandments. They are a gift from God meant to enhance our life and make it meaningful.

In ancient Jewish tradition, the Sabbath was like a meeting with the one you loved. Life was scheduled by living up to and from the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day of great anticipation and joy.

Maybe we could schedule the Sabbath back into our lives.