Sunday Obligation 

   “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” (Ex 20:8) 

   I think many people have forgotten that to fail to keep the Sabbath holy is a violation of one of the ten commandments.  Therefore, it is a serious obligation to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

   But what does’ “keep it holy” entail?  Is it just to take the day off and spend a few minutes thinking of God or is there a deeper meaning?  I believe it involves many things but most importantly, attending Mass.  It also means to spend time with the Lord outside of Mass.  It should be a day to rest as scripture says, “The Lord made the heavens and the earth and the seas and all that which is in them in six days, but he rested the seventh day.  Thus, the Lord blessed the Sabbath and declared it holy.” (Ex 20: 11.

   In the Catholic Church attending Mass on Sunday is an obligation and rightfully so.  But it should be so much more than an obligation.  It should be a privilege, an honor, and a joy to go to Mass.  We should look forward to the opportunity to gather in worship.  Going to Mass on Sunday only because it is an obligation misses the point.

   Many leave their faith at the door of the Church on the way out and don’t pick it up again until the following Sunday.  The rest of the day, and all the next week, they are undistinguishable as Catholics; their faith is weak at best.  Have they met the obligation?  I suppose technically they have, but do they keep the Sabbath holy in their hearts and in their actions?

   The Sabbath is considered a feast day, a day of great joy and celebration in the Lord.  It should be the highlight of our week, not just an hour of sitting in a pew because we are obligated to do so.  When we approach it as such it will more and more be the focus of our Sundays as it should.  We will come to realize the deeper meaning of keeping holy the Sabbath and know the joy and many blessings it brings.