Out Our Way: The Gospel according to Goliath: Remember the Sabbath Day

Mark 6:30-34

Out our way, it is easy to get busy, especially in the summer when the weather is fine and the sun remains above the horizon so late in the evening. And, of course, in Montana there is so much to do. Fishing, camping, hiking, and riding to name a few. And a great many locals are farmers and ranchers, so of course, the long hours of sunlight also mean extra hours of work.

I was discussing this with Goliath the other day and he allowed that more and more people are finding themselves feeling “rode hard and put away wet” these days, and not just in the summer, but all year round. With all the labor-saving devices we have, why is that? Well, “ole Doc” has a theory that bears some thought.

He asked me, “Of all the 10 commandments, which do you think is the hardest to keep?”    

Well I puzzled on that a bit, and actually was starting to feel sort of proud as I went through them, and I said I thought I did pretty well keeping them all. Have you ever heard a horse laugh?

For laugh he did, and he said there was one commandment I broke so often I didn’t even think about it anymore. He gave me that same look he gives me in the spring when I have put on extra weight and have trouble getting my foot in the stirrup because my tummy gets in the way. Then he said, “How are you doing on that keeping the sabbath bit?”  

Oops. I have to admit, since you ask, the answer is:  Not so good. Oh, I am in church of course — but the point of the Sabbath is not merely to worship — but to rest! Not by running around doing something else, but just a time to catch our breath, slow down, and live. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order in the Roman Catholic Church, suggested a mini-sabbath twice a day when we could just stop, take some time of quiet, and time to live in the present. It was called the “Prayer of Examen.” While some folks call it the “Prayer of Conscience,” and use it for a time to review the day’s events and our actions, both good and bad, it might be better to call it the “Prayer of Consciousness,” a time to reflect on how often during the day we were “actually present,” that is, aware of the moment and conscious of God in it.

When you fish for the big ones, tossing the lure out there and then quickly reeling it in like a speed boat doesn’t usually work. Better to let the lure sink down a bit; give it time to go deep. That is what the Sabbath is all about, giving the soul and the mind time to go deeper.  

In the text we are looking at today, you may notice that the disciples came back to Him all excited from their adventure in proclaiming the Gospel, casting out demons, and healing the sick. He told them that now it was time to rest; they needed a Sabbath. It was hard for Christ and His followers to take this time away, for as we read, the crowds went everywhere and gave them no peace. So as we shall see, Jesus had to make time. He would not turn away these people craving his attention, but even He needed “down time” with God, time to rest, reflect and be recharged.

If Jesus needed the sabbath for His work, how can I think I don’t? God requires the Sabbath and commands it, because He knows that I cannot maintain my energy or spiritual depth without it. A worn-out Christian is of no more use to the Kingdom than a worn out cowpony who is going lame from being overworked and can’t keep up.

“I may have a brain the size of an orange,” Goliath sniffed at me, “but even I know that much!”  

Touche, Goliath.

(John Bruington is pastor of First Presbyterian Church. He and Goliath can be found at http://www.havrepres.org, along with this week’s cartoons, sermon, and “Bruintown Tales for kids.”  Their book “Out Our Way: Theology Under Saddle” is available at Amazon.com.)