Can the Sabbath be a Gift?
Today we are going to learn about ways to heal our planet. These ways include resting and restoring. In the Creation Story God made everything in six days. On the seventh day God rested. In the Bible this day is called the Sabbath. In the Manna story that you heard last week God wanted people to rest from collecting bread every seven days. God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Here is how it is told in the Bible:
Scriptural Focus: Part One
The Sabbath
Reader 1: (Adapted from Exodus 20:8–11) God told Moses, “Tell the people to remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy. Do all the work you need to do for six days. But the seventh day is for God. Don’t do any work–not you, your children, your slaves, your animals, or people who came from other countries. Because God made everything in six days, but God rested on the seventh day. That’s why God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Reader 2: God wants us to have a “Do Nothing Day: once a week. Jewish people celebrate Sabbath on Saturdays, but Christians celebrate it on Sundays because that is the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead. Take a few quiet moments and think about how your family makes Sunday special and different from the rest of the week. Praying as a community at Mass and doing fun things as a family are ways of making it special. Talk about how your family celebrates the Sabbath. Are there any new ways you could celebrate it? (When I was a child, after we attended Mass, my father would cook breakfast for us on Sundays. We had a delicious and leisurely Sunday breakfast together. We also did not do any work. All our chores were completed on Saturdays.) Are there any new ways you can make Sunday special? Is there anything you want to change about your Sundays?
Journaling Activity:
On another page in your journal, copy the Bible verse: “God blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Draw pictures and/or write about the ways Sunday is special for you. Add at least one new way you could make Sunday a special day. Here is a song you can sing and dance on Sunday. (or any day)
A song:
Scriptural Focus: Part Two
Sabbath years: (also called Jubilee Years)
Reader: God also said there should be a Sabbath year. Guess how often…every 7 years. In Sabbath years, God told farmers to let the land rest by not planting crops on it. That let the land recover and heal. So God even wants to give creation a rest.
God also said that during the Sabbath year, people who borrowed money would not have to pay it back and if they had slaves they were to free them. Does that sound fair? Probably not. Why would God say that? Well, poor people would get poorer and poorer while others would get richer and richer. God didn’t like that, so He made this rule to help put things back the way they were. God gave creation for everyone to use, not just rich people. God wanted to heal society and make things right again, so if everyone made sure to rest and let other people and creation rest, then things could be restored to the way they should be.
Two songs:
Here are two songs to remind you of our Sabbath Sundays and our 7th year Sabbath/Jubilees.
One for You and One for Me ( MP3 | Score )
A beautiful video to celebrate and thank God for “Mother Earth”
Craft/Activity
Sabbath Mobiles
Supplies: 8.5 x 11 ” cardstock, cut into quarters, enough for 4-6 quarter pieces per child, cardstock cut into thinner strips with the words: “Sabbath: Time to Rest and Restore” printed on both sides, markers and/or crayons and/or paint, hole punch, string wire hangers, old magazines
Making the Mobiles:
- Draw, paint, or use magazines for pictures of activities you could enjoy doing on the Sabbath.
- Attach these to the 4×6 cardstock quarters. Try to think of things that are not work (avoid classes, sport practice, shopping (in stores or online). Show pictures of things that are fun and relaxing.
- Punch a hole in each mobile piece and tie various sized strings through them so that they will hang down at different lengths.String the “Sabbath: time to Rest and Restore at the top of the mobile. Attach this and the other pieces to the hanger.
A Saint for the Week: St. Francis of Assisi
Adults: read Ch. 4 of Laudato Si
Videos:
Canticle of the Creatures:
All: God our creator who made everything, we all praise you.
Reader: For Brother Sun, whose splendor gives us light and warmth!
All: Brother Sun! Praise our Creator God!
Reader: For Sisters Moon and Stars that grace our night skies!
All: Sisters Moon and Stars! Praise our God!
Reader: For Brothers Wind and Air, so precious, so important!
All: For Brothers Wind and Air, so precious, so important!
Reader: For Sister Water, so precious, so important!
All: Sister Water! Praise our God!
Reader: For Brother Fire, so beautiful, so playful, so strong!
All: Brother Fire! Praise our Creator God!
Reader: For Sister Mother Earth, who feeds and shelters us!
All: Sister Mother Earth! Praise our Creator God!
Reader: And for all our Brother and Sister Creatures, from the huge elephant and tall giraffe, to the squat squirrel and long weasels, to the tiny birds and tinier bugs, and all life in between…
All: Brother and Sister Creatures! Praise our Creator God! Together with these sisters and brothers, we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Saint cards and handouts:
Books for children:
- The Beatitales, by Jared Dees
- Brother Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi, by Tomie DePaola
Books for adults:
- Sun and Moon Over Assisi A Personal Encounter with Francis and Clare, by Gerard Straub
- Small Wonder, by Barbara Kingsolver
From the back cover: In her new essay collection, the beloved author of High Tide in Tucson brings to us, out of one of history’s darker moments, an extended love song to the world we still have. (Book was written in 2002.)