February 16                                                                                       Mark 2:  23 - 3:6

 

The Gospel of Mark tells about how the Pharisees questioned Jesus' allowing followers to pick grain to eat on the Sabbath, and then how Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath.  These two "sins" were used to convince Herod that Jesus deserved to be crucified. 

 

I have always cherished Sunday.  As a young child, our brood of six attended church weekly.  My father was one of three men in the neighborhood (two firemen and a police officer) who often had to work on Sundays.  But on the days he didn't have to work (and if we had mostly been good that week), we would all go to church together, then off to PonyLand or the zoo at Keney Park or on rare occasions Forest Park in Springfield.  As a child, there were no children's sports events competing with church.  When my brothers played midget football, it didn't start until 1:00 p.m.  With three morning services (that were usually packed to standing room only) there was plenty of time to get to church, home and change for football.  When the Irish Club in Glastonbury hosted a Feis (music and step dance competition) it started with an outdoor mass as many world class competitors traveled long distances to participate and appreciated the service being offered. 

 

Do you remember Blue Laws?  Blue laws (the term's origin is a matter of historical dispute), banning commerce on Sundays and holidays were inspired by the Puritans.   They landed in Massachusetts in the 1600s and operated under a philosophy of "honor the Sabbath — or else!”  Travel was forbidden on Sundays.  So was using a broom or engaging in work. Attire was strictly regulated, and missing church was forbidden.  Whipping was a common punishment.

 

Many professionals such as firemen, police officers, doctors, nurses and EMT's need to work on the Sabbath to keep us safe.  In today's modern economy, many people that struggle to keep their families afloat also need to work on Sundays.  I have always enjoyed my Sundays and often chose jobs where I wouldn't have to work on Sundays though that was not always possible.  Even during a period of time when I was quite mad at God, I still reveled in the relaxation of Sundays; a late, pampering breakfast (since I could sleep in as I wasn't attending church) and leisurely reading the Sunday paper and watching old movies on Channel 20.

 

When I was in graduate school, I worked for the statewide suicide/crisis information and referral hotline.  As it is a 24/7 operation, I could work around my school and internship schedule.  This was a job where I really needed to attend church weekly as it was perhaps the most emotionally taxing job I've ever had.  Not only did I need to attend services regularly, I probably prayed at this job more than at any other.  I prayed during calls and before and after calls.  You all know Murphy's Law, well Murphy's Law of suicide calls is if you get one, you get three (in a day), I once got two back-to-back.  So, on suicide days, I prayed A LOT!!  It was while working for this agency that I experienced a form of religious discrimination of sorts.  For the early part of my studies, I attended school nights and Saturdays, and worked Monday through Friday.  When overtime was offered, I would volunteer to take any shift except the first shift on Sunday.   My reason, of course, was that I attended weekly services.  I soon realized that when I was putting in for several shifts, but didn't choose Sundays, I didn't get ANY of other shifts I volunteered for.  I was one of many employees, and I'm sure not the only one who didn't pick Sundays.  I know that some of my colleagues didn't pick that particular shift because they would not be in any condition to work at 8:00 a.m. as they were probably out clubbing until 2:00 a.m.  However, everyone else seemed to get extra shifts.  In my case, but an extra.  I sought balance in my life, spending time with my family and friends was more attractive than picking up extra shifts.  Silly me, I thought attempting to pick up extra shifts was being a team player.  As my graduate studies intensified and I needed to lighten my workload, I dropped down to 20, then 16, and finally to 8 hours a week.  Still, a difficult shift to fill was the first shift on Sunday.  I stuck to my guns though and if I agreed to work a first shift on Sunday it wouldn't be until after services; first I couldn't get to work until 12:30 at the earliest, then when my church offered an early service I could make it by 10:30.  Though I was willing to do this and give up the relaxing part of my Sunday, I still felt that management resented that I wouldn't skip services to make a little extra money.  What they didn't seem to realize is that not only isn't money everything, it really doesn't mean much if you're not happy or content in life. 

 

In Genesis 2:1-3 we learn "So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finished.  By the seventh day God finished the work he had been doing, so he rested from all his work.  God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day, because on that day he rested from all the work he had done in creating the world."  He rested, as we all should after our hard work.  Rest helps us to rejuvenate so that we can turn around and go back to work, and do our work well.  Man made work on the Sabbath a punishable crime, not God and certainly not Jesus.  Who among us could reasonably rest when knowing someone else was in need?  Of course we all perform better when rested, so we should take time to do so.  If you can't rest on the Sabbath, then find another day when you can. 

 

 

~ Maggie Nolan-Thibault