REFLECTION:
One of the important features of Judaism is strict observance of the Sabbath. For the Jews, no work should be done so that they
can spend the day reading the Hebrew Bible. The motivation for the observance of the Sabbath is to thank God for
(1) the gift of creation (Exodus 20:8-11) and (2) the grace of liberation from slavery in Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12-15).
Jesus teaches that preservation of life is a concrete way of thanking God for the gifts of creation and liberation.
For us Catholics, Sunday is our Sabbath day; the day we thank God in a special way for the gift of creation and
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The observance of our rest day is also meant to energize our family life.
It is a beautiful practice for families to attend Holy Mass together on Sundays and spend the day together in recreation.
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