Fourth Commandment: Day of Rest

In a film trailer, I noticed a clip of President Bush talking with a citizen. The woman said she had three jobs. President Bush said in so many words, this is American enterprise. I do not think he was thinking of the Sabbath, or commenting on it, so much as remarking on how much Americans work --and the President saying it is good. I don't think it is good to work that hard.

Now that I've gone deeper into the subject than I planned, it is my opinion that people should not work so hard to make ends meet. I think it is important to set aside a time of rest. The Ten Commandments allow us space to decide how we will interpret them, and live by them. The purpose of the Ten Commandments is to bring one closer to God.

Most of us in some ways violate the Ten Commandments. We are all difficult people to someone, and difficult people to God. Praying for each other is helpful in keeping neighbor and friend, difficult people, too. Prayer needs to bring people who are evil towards God, and people who are good.. This quote from Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, July August 2007:

"But praying for difficult people confuses us--do I want this person to be blessed? Did I want my daughter's wayward boyfriend to make money so he could finance her life on the streets? In these cases, we can borrow from the best, using ideas from the saints. For example, Jesus and the Apostle Paul used the following phrases:

"that [Christ] would be in them and they in [Christ] (John 17:23)

"that they may become completely one with others who love God (John 17:21, 23)

"that they be strengthened in their inner being with power through Christ's Spirit (Eph. 3:16)

"that they be rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17)

"that they know (interactively) the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19)

"that they would overflow with God's love and be full of discernment (Phil. 1:9-10)"

From "A Journey of Formation" by Jan Johnson in Weavings.

Saturday Commandment; Day of Rest
By Peter Menkin

The integral given

by the Lord

is rest the seventh day.

By this mankind may find

another way of living

a better, more fruitful

living life to God.

Pondering the meaning,

and examining my way of living

with a mighty God:

Alas, modern living in the 21st Century,

is not so friendly

to the God we know.