Daily Office Readings or Saturday of the 1st Week of Epiphany: year 2
Morning, Psalms 20 and 21:1-7; Evening, Psalms 110:1-5, 116 and 117;
Genesis 6:9 to 22; Hebrews 4:1 to 13; John 2:13 to 22;
“So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God;’ (Hebrews 4:9).
Today, Saturday, is our God-assigned, Sabbath Rest Day, a gift from God. We should attend to it in a contemplative manner.
When I served in the Marines in Saudi Arabia, during the Liberation of Kuwait, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, those of us who were regular, Church-going Christians counted the weeks there by our Sundays. Two Sunday traditions took place where we were. First, the Navy chaplain came to our maintenance compound to conduct a Church Service. I remember that I led the Lord’s Prayer when invited to do so, and helping those who wanted to participate but didn’t know the words. Second, our mess hall (dining facility), prepared pancakes for breakfast! This was a big deal. During this non-liturgical breaking of the “pancake” bread, we got to see others with whom we came over with but do not work with on a daily basis. We celebrated each week as time passed until we boarded planes for home. For us Christians, worship is work regardless of how it is expressed. The Sabbath, however, is for Rest.
I have matured theologically since that time, or at least I think I have. Now, after careful study of scripture, I believe the God-given day for all of us is Saturday, the seventh day of the week. I still worship on Sundays but I think there is a difference between worship and rest. In my maturation I realize that there is always a need for emergency personnel to be ready to act. The military, the police, hospital staff and all first responders must be ready to respond to serious needs. And perhaps every other Sabbath should be given to them. Jesus never removed or transferred God’s gift of the Sabbath. This rest we enter is not ours alone. It is God’s rest. And we are invited to be at rest with God as often as we can. That day is Today!
I will close this blog page for today with the closing words of our Hebrews writer for today for you to ponder: “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs. Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account;” (Hebrews 4: 8 to 13). Therefore, we should rest each Sabbath until we are taken to our eternal Sabbath home.
Today we remember Antony of Egypt, Monastic (January 17) and his information may be found at: Antony, Abbot in Egypt
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: (The Collect for Saturdays BCP p. 99)
Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 