What We Do on Sunday

About Bishop St. Theophane the Recluse

About "old" and "new" calendar

July 9 (22)

Rom. 12:4-5, 15-21; Mt. 12:9-13

“It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath days” [Mt. 12:12]. That’s what the Lord said after healing a man with a withered hand in a synagogue on Sabbath, in reproach to the Pharisees who reduced the commandment of the Sabbath rest to such a formality that even counted their footsteps, how many are allowed. And because one cannot do good without moving, they would rather do no good than exceed their limit. The Savior denounced them for this more than once: Sabbath means the rest from worldly cares, not from brotherly love and charity.

Christians celebrate Sunday in lieu of Sabbath with the same purpose: rest from all worldly cares and dedicate this day to God alone. With regard to Sunday rest. Christian common sense would never turn into Pharisaic nit-picking; on the contrary, far too much is allowed in its violation. Self-imposed idleness kept the Pharisees from doing good, while Christians are separated from doing good by their futile activity.

Saturday night is given over to theater and after that to some other kind of entertainment. Sunday morning is overslept: no time for church. A few visits here and there, then lunch, then more entertainment at night. Thus, the time of rest is dedicated to the belly and vanity rather than to the Lord and charity.

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