Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. – Exodus 20:8-11 NRSVCE
Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have relief, and your homeborn slave and the resident alien may be refreshed. – Exodus 23:12 NRSVCE
The Lord said to Moses: You yourself are to speak to the Israelites: “You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, given in order that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the Israelites shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.” – Exodus 31:12-17 NRSVCE
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. – Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NRSVCE
The Third Commandment calls us to keep holy the Sabbath day. For Christians, the observance of the Sabbath is Sunday, the actual day of Christ’s Resurrection that brought about the new creation by Christ and recalls the creation of the world in Genesis (CCC no 2191). We keep the Sabbath holy by going to mass and avoiding unnecessary, burdensome work. Sunday Mass gives us the opportunity to do several things: offer a sign of our worship and dependence on God, celebrate the resurrection, and offer gratitude for all the blessings we have received from God.
In addition to recalling and celebrating Christ’s Resurrection, as a day of rest, we recall how God rested on the 7th day after creation therefore blessing the Sabbath day. We also recall Israel’s liberation by God from Egypt (CCC no 2170). The Sabbath day is God’s model for human activity and a protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money (CCC no 2172).
Jesus always respected the Sabbath day and further clarified that the Sabbath was made for man and it is meant to do good and save life.
What a gift! God’s is commanding us to take at least 1 day a week to honor, celebrate and give thanks to Him. He is requiring us to rest, reflect, and recharge. To realign ourselves every week as to what is most important and make sure we maintain that balance in life so we don’t slip back into putting work, money, or worldly things ahead of God. As our Father in Heaven, God knows what’s best for us and the Sabbath reminds us that we remember that all good things come from Him.
WHAT DOES THE COMMANDMENT REQUIRE?
The Third Commandment requires us to:
- Attend mass on Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation – We must go to Mass every single week, whether it be Sunday or Saturday evening. Mass is one of the most important aspects of the Catholic faith, and it’s important that we attend. Holy Days of Obligation are also required. They are called days of “Obligation” for a reason, you are obligated to go. Vigils for these days also counts if you have to go the evening before.
- Avoid all unnecessary work on Sunday – Is this burdensome work that I don’t enjoy doing? And is it necessary that it be completed on Sunday? Could this have been avoided with better time management? Sometimes things are just outside of your control and something must be done on a Sunday however if possible, it should be avoided. We are required as Catholics to do only what we really need to do on Sundays. Any work that is beyond what we need done should be held off until Monday. “Just as God ‘rested on the seventh day from all his work which He had done,’ human life has a rhythm of work and rest. The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate the familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.” (CCC no 2184) “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.” (CCC no 2185)
- Fast or abstain on appointed days. – As Catholics, we are required to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent, as well as Ash Wednesday. We are to fast (2 small meals and 1 normal size meal) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. We must also fast (not eat or drink anything except water, or medication that is necessary) for one hour before receiving communion. This includes no gum chewing during Mass.
- Avoid requiring others to work on Sunday in non-essential occupations – There are some essential occupations such as police, fire, doctors, etc. that may have to work on Sunday however requiring anyone to work on Sunday for any non-essential occupations should be avoided (CCC no 2186-2188)
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR FAITH?
The requirements of attending mass, fasting, and abstaining on appointed days, as well as avoiding unnecessary work on Sundays, are really minimums to be a practicing Catholic and violations of these requirements would be against the Third Commandment.
- As with any of the Commandments, it’s important to contemplate where you may have violated this Commandment when doing an examination of conscience prior to going to confession. Where you may have gone against this commandment, confess, repent, make it right as best you can, and ask for forgiveness. God knows our heart. He knows if there is true humility for acknowledgment of the sin, true contrition for the sin, and the true desire to repent and avoid the sin in the future. Without these things, forgiveness is not possible. God gives us the path and the grace for forgiveness however He also gives us the free will to choose to accept His grace and take the path to forgiveness or take a different path.
- Examination of conscience: Have I missed Mass on Sunday or any Holy Day of Obligation without a valid excuse? Have I arrived at Mass late or left early without a good reason? Have I let myself be distracted at Mass? Have I not set aside each day for prayer? Have I misused the Blessed Sacrament? Have I received any Blessed Sacrament while in the state of mortal sin? Have I done any unnecessary work or shopping on Sunday or other Holy Days of Obligation? Have I made sure to take my children to Mass? Do I make Sunday a day of rest and prayer? Have I shared guidance in the Faith to my children? Have I knowingly eaten meat on a forbidden day (or not fasted on a fast day)? Have I eaten or drunken within one hour of receiving Communion (other than medical need)?
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR FAMILY?
- Be present with God and with your family.
- Lead by example for your family. Teach what this means and live it. If you mess up, go to reconciliation to receive forgiveness. How can you and your family spend time together and give thanks for all you have received from God?
- Studies show that, more than anything, children want their parents’ attention. They want their parents to be present, engaged, and to listen to them so they feel heard. No matter how busy you are throughout this week, the Sabbath is an opportunity commanded by God to spend time with Him and your family. It allows you to demonstrate your love and gratitude for God and for your family. Mother Theresa once said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.“
- Demonstrate your priorities – Focus on God and your family. If your priorities in life are God first, family second, how can you not allow for 1 day a week to dedicate to your relationship with God and your family?
HOW CAN WE APPLY THIS TO OUR BUSINESS?
- We all need some work life balance. God led by example. As our creator, he knows what we need. He knows that in order to be the best version of ourselves, we need balance. We need rest to be the best version of ourselves. We need gratitude. We need to celebrate and give thanks for God freeing us from slavery in Egypt and Jesus freeing us from sin through his resurrection. This is a gift from God. If we never stop working, when would we ever have time to contemplate and worship God and nourish a loving relationship with him or with anyone else?
- God freed us as slaves so don’t voluntarily give us this freedom and become a slave to work again. You need to recharge, reflect and be thankful for all of your blessings and honor the God who makes it all possible. Studies show that people need breaks from work. They will be happier, more engaged, and more productive. Avoid any unnecessary work and anything that is burdensome on Sundays. As a business leader, try to avoid causing anyone else to have work or have to do anything burdensome on Sundays.
- Don’t reject God’s gift. How do you feel when you provide a thoughtful, heartfelt gift that you know will help someone you love and they don’t accept it? Accept this gift and free yourself from work so you can receive the joy, rest, and rejuvenation from this once-a-week gift from God.
Take care and God bless. I’m praying for you. Please pray for me.
ADDITIONAL WISDOM FROM THE BIBLE
- Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is Lord even of the sabbath.” – Mark 2:27-28 NRSVCE
- Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. – Mark 3:3 NRSVCE