Wednesday, August 5, 2020
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Sabbath Reward
The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
We hear this Word read out to us and parsed for us; we celebrate and sing the Word in liturgy. This word tells us how to struggle, how to live, how to celebrate and how to die. Do we need to hear anything more to understand how we are to live and how we are measured? Nothing is hidden. All is revealed. God is within us even to the tiny spaces between bone and marrow, even in the invisible place of soul and spirit. So what do we do to nurture and sustain this presence? When do come together to declare that . . . this is good?
God says: Can you imagine the glorious sounds I hear when you gather to celebrate and worship in liturgy? Do you understand how important it is for you to come together to focus your minds on my Word and to bring me your petitions, your sorrows and your joys? Are you willing to put aside small squabbles so that you might join your voices, minds and hearts in communion for me? I rested after bringing forth creation. I ask that you rest on the Sabbath and celebrate with others as you come to me. The rewards for you will be greater than you can imagine.
We are creatures created by God to worship and yet we turn so often to what we see and hear around us. What do our eyes see most? What do our ears hear most? What does our soul take up most from the resources we make available to it? It takes an effort to move away from the typical and close-to-hand objects of worship – clothes, house, lawn, garden, food, car, vacation, career, success, wealth – to turn to what truly sustains – love in and of God as we find God in ourselves and in one another, alone and in communion with others.
We believe that when we die, we will be united in Christ in a new way. What do we do to prepare ourselves for this communion? How do we train our spirit to recognize and to participate in the greatest Sabbath rest of all . . . the eternal rest of our soul in God? We will want to make time for our instruction and nourishment by the Word today. And when we participate in this Sabbath Rest, let us take a moment to observe God’s work, to declare that it is all good . . . for the joy that arrives with this knowing will be our Sabbath Reward.
Tomorrow, the word as a two-edged sword.
Image from: http://www.girlsgonewise.com/topics/spiritual-life/inspiration/
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