Commandment Confusion

[KephasAugustine]

I am at a loss for how to explain the second Commandment to my mom. I still live at home, but am almost 21 years old, and quite capable of making moral decisions for myself and my life. My mother freaks out weekly about my preference to refrain from work on Sundays, saying I need to follow the fourth Commandment. The thing is, I honor and obey her all week long, doing what she asks when she asks, and even on Sundays I will do small favors for her if she asks me to (make her a sandwich, etc…).

However, when it comes to working all day pulling weeds, or vacuuming the entire house, and other such tasks that could be done on Saturday, Monday, or any other day, I try to charitably draw the line and tell her that I choose today to spend time in repose, remembering the Lord and all of His good works.

As a 20 year old man desiring to take his faith to the next level, I am, as I said, at a loss for how I should explain to her that God has to come first in my life; and while I can devote six days a week (now that I’ve quit my summer job and am preparing to go back to college) to helping her around the house and in the yard, I should devote at least one day to my reflection on and prayer to my Lord and my God.

She quotes me the fourth Commandment incessantly, seeming to forget about the ones pertaining to honoring God above all, and I have told her that I can’t pick and choose Commandments, but beyond that I’m a little at a loss. How do I tell her that I want to give Sunday to the Lord without making her think I’m doing it just to disobey her and slack off for a day? She takes it as an act of rebellion against her rule, rather than a submission and obedience to God.

Or am I wrong, and the fourth comes first?

Thanks in advance.

 

[nana3]

Wow, this is a hard question. I know that I have some of the same problems in this area, but with dh and not my mother. I hate to go shopping on Sundays, unless it is for food, grocery. I hate to listen to secular music on Sundays and think that we could listen to Christian or Catholic music for this one day. My dh doesn’t see it that way. We are all the same paths with the Lord, but all on different spiritual levels. I know my parents like to go to the mall, or mom mostly, on Sundays. I disagree with them but I can’t force them for they should want to not go for the right reasons. I use to go to the mall on Sundays myself, until I had a conversion, and my conversion continues, but at one point in my twenties, I decided no more Sunday shopping and devoted that day to the Lord.

You mom may be like my mom and is at a different level in her walk with Jesus than you are. I am not saying you are better than her, just at a different level. If I was you and one time I was when I lived with my parents in my twenties, I would do what your mom asks of you and in whatever you do, offer it up to the Lord as a work of sacrifice and love. You can also pray as you lets say vacuum or whatever. My aunt once was picking beans from bushes in her garden one day and I would hear her and she was praying, or singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet as she did this work. This way you can pray and make your mom happy at the same time. I wouldn’t want to be working the entire day of Sunday and maybe you and your mom can come to a compromise. Let her know that you want time to pray. I use to help my mother and than after doing whatever she asked, I would go to my room and pray. She knew it and respected me enough to allow it. I would also ask my mom on Saturday for things that needed to get done so that I would have Sundays off to pray.

I hope this helps.

 

[KCT]

Maybe on Friday or Saturday you could ask about what needs to be done so you can do it before Sunday! —KCT