~by Gina
4th Commandment:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.”
Reflection:
The Lord is our creator and therefore He knows best what we need most.
Because He loves us and wants us close to Him, God has generously worked into our chaotic week a day of rest and recuperation that if honored promises to bring us the peace and grace to make it through yet another week. “If you hold back your foot on the Sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD's holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice, then you shall delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken ~Is 58:9b-14 He is so determined in meeting our needs that He went so far as to mandate it with the 4th Commandment. We require rest and replenishing from the Holy Spirit not only for our physical and spiritual rehabilitation and emotional balance but also to strengthen, perhaps even mend relationships that may be suffering due to neglect as a result of impossible time constraints during the week. What a hidden treasure we all often overlook, an entire day to be still and allow the love of the Holy Spirit and those close to us to recharge us for another long week ahead. While I know it seems like a tall order we must make every attempt to keep life simple and allow ourselves to be nurtured if not throughout the week at minimum on the day that God has requested us to do so. I suffice it safe to say that we all agree that the other Commandments seem reasonable and if I may be so bold as to assume we would never intentionally disobey; murder, lying, stealing…not so good! Why is it then that we cannot allow ourselves to readily accept the simplest instruction of all, to be still and reenergized, filled with love and peace in order to then be truly capable of giving it away once again throughout the hustle and bustle of our daily lives Mon-Saturday. It seems to me that there is not much to ponder here, no political or cultural climate to compete with just the simplicity of being still and happy, present for the Lord, ourselves and those we love.
Because He loves us and wants us close to Him, God has generously worked into our chaotic week a day of rest and recuperation that if honored promises to bring us the peace and grace to make it through yet another week. “If you hold back your foot on the Sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD's holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice, then you shall delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken ~Is 58:9b-14 He is so determined in meeting our needs that He went so far as to mandate it with the 4th Commandment. We require rest and replenishing from the Holy Spirit not only for our physical and spiritual rehabilitation and emotional balance but also to strengthen, perhaps even mend relationships that may be suffering due to neglect as a result of impossible time constraints during the week. What a hidden treasure we all often overlook, an entire day to be still and allow the love of the Holy Spirit and those close to us to recharge us for another long week ahead. While I know it seems like a tall order we must make every attempt to keep life simple and allow ourselves to be nurtured if not throughout the week at minimum on the day that God has requested us to do so. I suffice it safe to say that we all agree that the other Commandments seem reasonable and if I may be so bold as to assume we would never intentionally disobey; murder, lying, stealing…not so good! Why is it then that we cannot allow ourselves to readily accept the simplest instruction of all, to be still and reenergized, filled with love and peace in order to then be truly capable of giving it away once again throughout the hustle and bustle of our daily lives Mon-Saturday. It seems to me that there is not much to ponder here, no political or cultural climate to compete with just the simplicity of being still and happy, present for the Lord, ourselves and those we love.
Prayer to Mary:
O Virgin Immaculate…My Mother
O Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God, My Mother, from your sublime heights
Turn your eyes of pity on me. Filled with confidence in your goodness and knowing full well your power, I beg you to extend to me your assistance in the journey of life, which is so full of dangers for my soul.
In order that I may never be a slave of the devil in sin, but may ever live with my heart humble and pure, I entrust myself wholly to you. I consecrate my heart to you forever,
My only desire being to love your Divine Son, Jesus. Mary, none of your devout servants has ever perished; May I too be saved.
~Amen
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