How are you keeping the Lord's Day holy?

   “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy”. – [Genesis 2:3]  The Lord’s Day was always marked by going to Mass to keep it holy.  However, the Lord’s Day is not just one hour on Sunday.  Yes, Mass is the pinnacle of the day and the Mass is not to be outdone in all of history, but how do we keep the Lord’s Day holy?

   To know how to keep the Lord’s Day holy, we must remember why we are to keep the Lord’s Day holy.  In the beginning, it was “because on it [God] rested from all the work he had done in creation.” – [Genesis 2:3]  Then to reiterate the importance, it was given special place as the 3^rd Commandment, “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”

   In that time, the Lord’s Day was Saturday.  Indeed, to Jews today they celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday.  So, why do Christians celebrate the Lord’s Day on Sunday instead?  Well, Saturday was the day God rested from all creation, the seventh day.  And Sunday was the day of the Resurrection, a new creation in the order of grace and our accessibility to Heaven.  “[T]he Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” – [Matthew 12:8]

   So, the Lord’s Day is a celebration of God’s creation, but also of God’s saving love for us through the Cross to the Resurrection.  In this, we see a reason to celebrate even without being commanded to.  It’s a weekly celebration of Easter.  Death has been conquered and a new life waits us in Heaven.

   How do we keep the Lord’s Day holy?  Precisely by celebrating.  We know how to celebrate a birthday, an anniversary, or even little things like a child’s lost tooth.  We know how to celebrate already.  We just need to point our celebrating to the empty tomb of Easter and then we will know how to celebrate the Lord’s Day in our lives.

   Mary Magdalene, you met Jesus on the first Easter Sunday and rejoiced in meeting Him, help us to rejoice at the risen Jesus and celebrate His victory with our loved ones. Amen.

P.S. In this time of being unable to attend Mass in person, I highly suggest watching Mass online if you can.  Just go to YouTube.com and search for “Sunday Mass”.