Shepherd of Faith

I recently came across a meme with the words in the photo. I literally laughed out loud. Boy could I relate!

I must admit, I was thoroughly convicted upon reading Isaiah 58:9b-14 today. The last paragraph reads: If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight, and the Lord’s holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice – Then you shall delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

When I read that paragraph, I felt like Jesus was “dropping the mic” as they say today. For several months now, I’ve been trying, and failing, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t get me wrong, I participate in the Holy sacrifice of the mass on Sunday and I rise early in the morning to have my private, quiet time with the Lord and His word. However, even with all of that, my Sundays are wrought with activity and household work: all the laundry, dusting and vacuuming I didn’t get to on Saturday. Basically, I’m keeping up and catching up before the start of the new work week. That’s not what God intended when he commanded us to keep holy the Sabbath. Saint Pope John Paul II wrote about this in his Apostolic Letter Dies Domini.

I sat pondering Isaiah for a while and was struck by the idea that Sundays are not only mini Easters but mini Lents as well. It’s true that Sundays are a time of rejoicing and feasting but if you think about it, they’re also a time of fasting (not in a penitential sense but from any and all work and shopping). They are the perfect opportunity for us to make room in our lives for the One who is the Source of our lives and cause of our joy!

I continued to ponder throughout the day what it would mean for me to keep the Sabbath day truly holy. It will certainly be challenging at first (for this self proclaimed fidget) but I know it will be worth it in the end.

“Go deeper!” That’s the whisper I keep hearing since the start of the new year. Spiritual reading (Lord knows I have quite a few unread books on my bookshelf), watching religious content or delving deeper into Scripture could be things I do more of on a Sunday instead of shopping or doing chores.

Sunday is meant for us to give God His due. Praise, honor, time, sacrifice and communion. Work done on Sunday, if any work is done at all, should be creative work. What a beautiful way to show God we’re putting the gifts he gave us to good use. From now on I intend to keep the Sabbath day holy – no work, no shopping, no worry about the week to come, just communion, prayer and thanksgiving and maybe some woodturning or watercolor painting! I’m going to fail at times but I’m prepared to be tender with myself when I do. Another breath God breathes in me is another opportunity to begin again. Intention is a start. Let’s see if I can turn it into effortless action!

Praise be to God, the hound of heaven, who never gives up on us and is constantly at work in our lives! He deserves more than one day a week but He’s content with that. Can we give Him his due and choose what’s important over what we perceive to be urgent. I wonder if I died tomorrow -would I really care whether the laundry is done or would I be more concerned with seeing God face to face and spending eternity with Him? IMPORTANT OVER URGENT what will you choose? God bless you!

How are you doing? Are you doing? I ask because these past few days of prayer and reflection keep leading me to ponder the idea of surrender. Surrender how? By focusing less on what I’m“doing” for Lent and allowing Lent to be done to me. I’m called to think less of what I’M going to “accomplish” and focus more on what God wants to accomplish in me. In other words, to take on a posture of receptivity as opposed to striving. Think of the story of Martha and Mary.

It’s so important to take the time to offer our intentions to God and ask for His guidance, even in the little things. For me, the next forty or so days will be a time of intent listening to how God desires to speak into my life. I’m open to the possibility that it could lead to changes in the intentions I’ve set for Lent.

I guess what I’m getting at is: every journey has its detours, twists and turns. Our Lenten journey is no different. I invite you to join me this year in changing your approach to Lent. Change your posture. Be receptive. Open your ears to God’s still, small voice. Open your mind and heart to the possibility of changing intentions mid-season if, after taking it to prayer, you feel it’s what you’re being called to do.

Today’s reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah says: “Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: that a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? This rather is the fasting I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the things of the yoke, setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry; sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own.

This verse reminds us that the focus of our Lenten plans should be more than personal pursuits. Here God challenges us to fast in ways we may have never imagined. Whatever way we choose to “fast” should lead to change and action. No matter what you may think – YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO CHANGE! Remember: nothing is impossible for God and He needs all the members of his Body to participate in His plan. You are valuable, worthy and necessary! Ask God to lead you EVERYWHERE! God bless you!