Mowing the Lawn on Sunday

[frangiuliano115]

I’m working Saturday night and Sunday night. That 440lb patient isn’t going to get on a bed pan by herself. I promise that riding a lawn mower is much easier. I did go to the vigil Mass, but I was horrible because I left right after receiving communion. There was a baptiam , so it took longer and I had to get a nap a 1 1/2 hour nap in before work. I guess I need to change jobs, since people need to sell their houses.

:clapping:

Very Good!

 

[frangiuliano115]

I’ve always liked what St. Paul said in Romans 14:5

“One man esteems one day above another: another esteems every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

Then there’s Colossians 2:16

“Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

I guess these verses could also apply to mowing the lawn on Sunday…?

You are correct in quoting Romans 14:5 and Colossians 2:16.

Bookcat is right in saying that these passages were for the Jewish Christians of the time, but all of the bible is also directed to us. The above passages apply when taken in context; the weak and the strong in faith; not judging others.

The old Judaizers wanted to hold on to the old Law and were trying to make new converts do the same, but as Colossians says: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come - the reality, however, is found in Christ” And the continuation of your Romans quote says: “If we live, we live to the Lord”.

Since you make your statement as a question, I thought I’d take the time to expound on it a bit.

God bless you

 

[frangiuliano115]

For us…mowing the lawn has become a family thing anyway.

My husband would get the girls outside and would go mow the lawn in the morning. The girls liked running after him and playing around in the yard while the grass got a “haircut”.

Perfect and just want to say that I love your “signature”.

God bless

 

[exnihilo]

Not really the case. I have both rented and owned homes. In EVERY house I have rented I have paid more than what a mortgage would be for the same house AND had to mow the lawn. I think it is odd to think that Sunday Mowing is indicative of living beyond your means.

You misunderstand. I’ve rented two houses in my life. I’ve had to mow the lawn at both. The less likely applied to the conditions by which one was residing in a house. It is less likely one would rent a house versus owning it.

The point was if you have to work so much that the only time you can mow is on Sunday then maybe you should reconsider your choices. This chiefly applies to people who choose to buy a home versus renting an apartment. But it could apply to renters of homes as well.

While my husband and I haven’t had to mow lawns while renting…paying rent is often way more expensive in the long run (especially depending where you live) then having a mortgage.

Plus, it really isn’t out of the question to have to mow a lawn…especially if you are renting a house.

Even just suggesting that one should give up a family home just because we could potentially be disrespecting the Lord’s day because it was the only feasible day to mow the lawn (a situation my husband has been in more then once thanks to his rotating work schedule, rainy days and other commitments)…or do weeding, rake leaves, shovel the driveway…or whatever…is outrageous at best.

I’m floored that it was even suggested.

I don’t know why you are floored. The idea that everyone should have a house, which is not the same as a home, is to me far more radical. The so called American Dream was and is propped up by tax privilege and government subsidies. Many people seem to make house ownership a high priority in their life. Like any material thing it can be more of a priority than God. This is talked about in Holy Scripture.

 

[SuperLuigi]

There are so many threads about this topic. There are many opinions on the topic and doesn’t seem like there is a solid answer to it.

That’s the case with a lot of these types of questions.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Is mowing the lawn on sunday allowed by the Church? It could be done on another day but it would be easier to do it on Sunday…it’s not a huge deal if it has to be a different day, just makes life a little easier if its on Sunday.

Asking because after a brief search online I got inconclusive results.

And you’ve got inconclusive results here as well.

These kinds of questions often boil down to if you have an obligation not to mow your lawn on Sunday.

I once asked my priest about gardening on Sunday, and he said it was fine, because he figured I enjoyed it.

So, I think what you need to do is ask your Confessor or a priest about what your obligation is and go from there.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

You misunderstand. I’ve rented two houses in my life. I’ve had to mow the lawn at both. The less likely applied to the conditions by which one was residing in a house. It is less likely one would rent a house versus owning it.

The point was if you have to work so much that the only time you can mow is on Sunday then maybe you should reconsider your choices. This chiefly applies to people who choose to buy a home versus renting an apartment. But it could apply to renters of homes as well.
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I don’t know why you are floored. The idea that everyone should have a house, which is not the same as a home, is to me far more radical. The so called American Dream was and is propped up by tax privilege and government subsidies. Many people seem to make house ownership a high priority in their life. Like any material thing it can be more of a priority than God. This is talked about in Holy Scripture.

It sounds like you have a cause dear to you that really does not apply here. I don’t like soccer. Perhaps if others find they have to mow the lawn on Sunday they should take their kids out of soccer. I think you should learn more about housing purchases.

 

[exnihilo]

It sounds like you have a cause dear to you that really does not apply here. I don’t like soccer. Perhaps if others find they have to mow the lawn on Sunday they should take their kids out of soccer. I think you should learn more about housing purchases.

What cause is that other than observing Sundays with reverence as Christians have for centuries? I’m not sure what you think I don’t know about housing purchases or what that has to do with the topic.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

What cause is that other than observing Sundays with reverence as Christians have for centuries? I’m not sure what you think I don’t know about housing purchases or what that has to do with the topic.

Neither do I.

 

[CHRISTINE77]

This is one of the dumbest topics I have ever heard of . I can’t believe people are taking this seriously!

 

[frangiuliano115]

This is one of the dumbest topics I have ever heard of . I can’t believe people are taking this seriously!

Why is any faith question dumb?

The OP has a legitimate question close to his/her heart.

The closer you get to God, the more you become aware of sin and your sin nature (or concupescence).

Looking around me at this present world we live in, I think it’s great that the OP is worried that cutting the grass on Sunday might not be acceptable to God.

Just think what a world we’d have if more people were like him!

God bless you
Fran

 

[Bookcat]

This is one of the dumbest topics I have ever heard of . I can’t believe people are taking this seriously!

It is a very legit topic. The Lords Day is very important. It is a Day of Celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. A day of going to Mass, of prayer, of culture, of family life, of charity, of rest… (see the Catechism already quoted up above).

The person is right ask about such a chore and it being fitting or not fitting for the Lords Day.

 

[Burt_Macklin]

I tell you hwat. I never can understand people who look at mowing the lawn as work.

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/hank-hill-on-drugs.jpg

 

[CHRISTINE77]

It is a very legit topic. The Lords Day is very important. It is a Day of Celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord. A day of going to Mass, of prayer, of culture, of family life, of charity, of rest… (see the Catechism already quoted up above).

The person is right ask about such a chore and it being fitting or not fitting for the Lords Day.

Sorry but I think there are a lot more important topics concerning morality, than mowing your lawn.

 

[Bookcat]

Sorry but I think there are a lot more important topics concerning morality, than mowing your lawn.

This is a forum. And the Lords Day is of great importance - and such is a good question.

 

[frangiuliano115]

Sorry but I think there are a lot more important topics concerning morality, than mowing your lawn.

I’m sorry you didn’t catch my post just above.

It means that the OP has ALREADY considered the"more important moral topics" and is now considering the less important topics but which are still important to him.

Bookcat is right.

And thank you Burt Maklin for the laugh. I AGREE!!

God bless you
Fran

 

[Simca]

I know that the Jewish people considered this such an important topic that they wrote various things into their law explicitly explaining what was considered work and what was not. They took God’s commandments very seriously, and were afraid of breaking one single aspect of his law–that’s how much they loved and respected him.

Even today, the ultra conservative Jews will hire Gentiles to come into their homes on Saturday to do any work that may need to be done. Even just to turn a light switch on…just in case God might consider this to be breaking the Sabbath.

 

[Simca]

You are correct in quoting Romans 14:5 and Colossians 2:16.

Bookcat is right in saying that these passages were for the Jewish Christians of the time, but all of the bible is also directed to us. The above passages apply when taken in context; the weak and the strong in faith; not judging others.

The old Judaizers wanted to hold on to the old Law and were trying to make new converts do the same, but as Colossians says: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come - the reality, however, is found in Christ” And the continuation of your Romans quote says: “If we live, we live to the Lord”.

Since you make your statement as a question, I thought I’d take the time to expound on it a bit.

God bless you

Thanks!