Wednesday of Holy Week Practice 2021
A Day of Rest – Details aren’t mentioned in the Gospels
During the pandemic our work-life balance has gotten even worse. Many people report working every day at all times of the day and night. Before the pandemic Americans were thought to check their phones every 10 minutes. We live in a culture of constant movement and production, in which busyness is lauded as a moral virtue.
Sabbath it the practice of resting to be renewed. It’s a gift inherent in freedom. The possibility to stop doing in order to gain perspective, remember, practice gratitude and celebrate what is. In not working, we can reconnect with others, God and ourselves. In sabbath we can revisit our priorities and discern what part of our life we might need to rearrange to have more balance, deeper connection with others and to be able to practice sabbath-rest in a regular way.
When many of us think of sabbath our thoughts gravitate toward solitude and silence. And celebration, connection and playful activity are also sabbath rest.
Scripture is silent about this day in the final week of Jesus. Maybe nothing transpired because Jesus and his friends were resting. We need such rest too – throughout the year, throughout each week, and even at times during every day. Today take some time to do sabbath. You can either:
- Take 15 minutes to sit in the sun (directly or through a window). Enjoy the warmth as the sun rays revitalize and renew your body creating vitamin D which heals stress damage in our bodies and reduces inflammation.
2. Do something or celebrate someone that makes your life richer. Call a loved one. Write a card. Do a thing that gives you life. Enjoy someone or something without feeling the need to “produce” or get something done.
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