Sabbath Moments
May 1, 2010
Sabbath moments are the moments we rest in God, when we take time to just Be with God rather than Do. Sabbath moments are those times when we live in the moment and find the holy in the ordinary. Visit Colleen at Thoughts on Grace to read about the Sabbath moments others have had this week.
Keeping Life in Perspective
Throughout Paschaltide a Chapter reading at Lauds in the Divine Office causes me to stop and think about our destination in the next world. It is St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, 3:1-2:
If you have risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth.
Nearly every morning this week after I finished praying my Rosary, I contemplated his words for awhile as the fresh breezes of late April blew through my window and the birds twittered happily about their morning business. To me, St. Paul is urging us to keep our minds on heavenly things and not get caught up in earthly concerns as an end in themselves. His words encourage us to “do all things in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4: 13). If we follow them we practice the virtue of detachment, we keep our lives simple, and we go about our daily duties without being obsessed with power, approbation, wealth and possessions.
Christ in Glory, 1597-98, oil on canvas, Annibale Carracci (b.1560, Bologna, d. 1609, Roma), Galleria Palatina (Palazzo Pitti), Florence
St. Paul is saying to keep everything in perspective as if we were somehow seeing through God’s eyes. He is not telling us to neglect our daily duties nor turn aside from the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We are in this world because God created us and we work out our salvation through this world, but always as St. Paul urges, with the Grand Prize (Acts 17: 11) of heaven in mind. Moreover, his words say that God is always in charge and imply the necessity to do our best while trusting Him in everything. For myself, I’ll know that I have perfect trust in God when I quit worrying about “the things that are on earth.”
5 Comments to Sabbath Moments
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I love that verse and your reflection is beautiful! So good to set that time aside with the Lord and contemplate! God bless!
“we were somehow seeing through God’s eyes.”
My wife always paraphreases this to our kids as, “don’t see like you see, see like God sees.”
In my Catechism class, I tell my 6th graders I tell the kids to “see what a saint sees.” I’m probably quoting my wife quoting Paul.
Excellent advice!
It’s so important, what you’re telling the kids. They will remember it forever. Along with their parents, you are shaping future saints.