Question on Keeping the Sabbath

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Mr.Blank1.5

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The lukewarm Christian may not perhaps work on Sunday at tasks which seem to be forbidden to anyone who has even the slightest shred of religion, but doing some sewing, arranging something in the house, driving sheep to the fields during the times for Masses, on the pretext that there is not enough food to give them – all these things will be done without the slightest scruple, and such people will prefer to allow their souls and the souls of their employees to perish rather than endanger their animals. A man will busy himself getting out his tools and his carts and harrows and so on, for the next day; he will fill in a hole or fence a gap; he will cut various lengths of cords and ropes; he will carry out the churns and set them in order. What do you think about all this, my brethren? Is it not, alas, the simple truth? …
That was a passage by St. John Vianney. Now I can understand that driving animals, fixing fences, etc. would be considered unecessary work (at least I’m pretty sure that is what he is getting at). However, would things such as sweing, or arranging things in the house would be signs of lukewarmness? What about cooking or cleaning?
 
We must acknowledge the spirit of the law here. The Lord’s day is to be kept sacred and that can be done in various ways. Those who work in the many jobs that require them to work on Sundays can still observe this commandment. Can you tell me that cooking for your family is wrong on Sunday? Cooking and sewing are ways of maintaining the domestic Church which is very much a part of keeping the Lord’s day. Anyway, that is my take on this and to become too legalistic is to become one who replaces the love of neighbor for an omission of that love… teachccd 🙂
 
The question is, what are you being called to do?

I know some Orthodox Jews that prepare all food ahead of time, don’t ride in cars or even touch/turn doorknobs.

This is extreme, and I certainly don’t feel called to go that far, but I have noticed a huge change in our family dynamic since my husband stopped working on Sunday. A LOT *more *gets done around the house. He overworks himself on Saturday, and leaves Sunday to enjoy the family. NO SPORTS.

The more you honor this commandment, the better you understand it’s profound wisdom.
 
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