Sabbath

Saturday is the day of the Jewish Sabbath. For a host of reasons -- theological, liturgical, and sociological -- we Christians moved our Sabbath to Sunday. But there's something appealing about a Saturday Sabbath. Having the day of rest come at the end of the week's labors suggests that we should be pacing ourselves, restoring ourselves, refreshing ourselves. It's a day to take stock (remember, God surveyed God's handiwork after six days of Creation).

Lent, of course, is also a time to take stock.

But after we've done that, what's next?

Do we rest on our laurels (or lose ourselves in despair)? Or do we keep moving forward?

I believe the answer is the latter -- the Christian life, after all, is a pilgrimage, a path into the life God wishes for each of us. Sabbath time -- whether it's on a Saturday or Sunday -- helps us be ready to embark on the next phase of our journey into faith.

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