Sunday "Work"

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OrangeOwl

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So, it being Sunday, I have a question about whether it’s okay to work today. I have trouble interpreting the commandment about staying away from “servile work” because I would hardly consider my work “servile.”

I have a part-time (almost contract-like) job as a legal researcher. I usually work from home on my computer. My employer basically asks me a legal question and I research the statutes and case law on that particular issue to give him an answer.

I quite like my job. I find it enjoyable, and usually hardly like work at all – except for the fact that I get paid. It’s a chance to find out how good my research skills are. It is obviously not exhausting. The most physical effort I might put into it is driving to the law library and pulling a couple of books off the shelf.

Of course, the problem is that I suppose I could wait to do this research until Monday. But, it’s just more convenient to do it today, and I don’t feel like putting it off (anymore than I already have).

I ran into this problem last Sunday, too, and I ended up deciding not to do any research. And I didn’t end up doing much of anything. Which felt wrong, too.

Obviously, this isn’t an issue of work interfering with church. I’ll still go to Sunday mass. But I’m just wondering how I’m allowed to spend the rest of the day (other than praying). I mean, is it really “servile work”? Especially if I like what I’m doing (of course, I like the money involved too)?

And what about throwing clothes into the washing machine, or baking cookies? I mean, how far am I supposed to go with this no work thing?
 
Bottom line - if you’re paid to do it and can leave it until Monday then don’t do it on a Sunday. ‘Six days shalt thou labour’, as the commandment says, not ‘six days shalt thou do physical work’. Paid work is labour, even if you enjoy it (and I hope we all enjoy our work at least a little!)

It would be different if, say, you were a criminal lawyer who got a file dumped on your desk on Friday afternoon for someone going to court on Monday or something. Or it was casual work and you needed the extra money to provide the necessities of life. But not otherwise.

In what sense is Sunday ‘set apart as holy’ if you’re doing the same old same old thing as you do every other day - in other words your paid work? You spent an hour at Mass? Hardly by itself constitutes keeping a day holy, which is the obligation. Note the commandment isn’t just to spend an hour in worship on the Sabbath.

Here’s how the Catechism puts it:

“2172 God’s action is the model for human action. If God “rested and was refreshed” on the seventh day, man too ought to “rest” and should let others, especially the poor, “be refreshed.” The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money.”

My emphases. We can see that more than physical labour is at stake, and more than physical labour is meant here.

No, we’re not to do nothing on Sundays - but if you can’t find things other than work to occupy your time during a day off, then you may be unhealthily attached to your work. Regardless of whether that day is Sunday or any other.

Do you have no hobbies or recreational activities you can pursue? No friends or family you can spend time with? No prayers or spiritual reading you can do?
 
Hi OrangeOwl,
May I applaud your post as it is something which I have wondered about for a while.
I’ve come to the conclusion that, if I can help it, I will keep Sunday for Faith study. And this website is part of that for me as I learn so much from the seasoned debaters (take a bow, LilyM et al!).
God Bless,
Colmcille.🙂
 
Hi OrangeOwl, as a christian you are no longer under the law. The Sabbath is Saturday in the OT, not Sunday.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Romans 6:14.

Christians are ”dead to the law." Romans 7:4.

“If ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law” Galatians 5:18.

Christians are “delivered from the law.” Romans 7:6.

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster “ [the law]. Galatians 3:24-25.

For Christians, the Law is “that which is done away.” II Corinthians 3:11.

For Christians, the Law is “that which is abolished.” II Corinthians 3:13.

For Christians, Jesus, on the Cross, was “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” Colossians 2:14.

For Christians, the Law is taken “out of the way” and nailed “to his cross.” Colossians 2:14.

“When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.” Hebrews 8:13, The Amplified Version

“And after that he said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Thus he put an end to the first in order to establish the second.” Hebrews 10:9, Lamsa Translation

Romans 14:5-8 (New Century Version)

5 Some think that one day is more important than another, and others think that every day is the same. Let all be sure in their own mind.6 Those who think one day is more important than other days are doing that for the Lord. And those who eat all kinds of food are doing that for the Lord, and they give thanks to God. Others who refuse to eat some foods do that for the Lord, and they give thanks to God.7 We do not live or die for ourselves.8 If we live, we are living for the Lord, and if we die, we are dying for the Lord. So living or dying, we belong to the Lord.

Orthodox Jews do not drive cars on the Sabbath because it involves lighting a fire. Starting a car is like creating a fire, which burns fuel and gives the car energy. Kindling fire is one of the **39 types of work that the Torah prohibits on the Sabbath. **
  1. Carrying
  2. Burning
  3. Extinguishing
  4. Finishing
  5. Writing
  6. Erasing
  7. Cooking
  8. Washing
  9. Sewing
  10. Tearing
  11. Knotting
  12. Untying
  13. Shaping
  14. Plowing
  15. Planting
  16. Reaping
  17. Harvesting
  18. Threshing
  19. Winnowing
  20. Selecting
  21. Sifting
  22. Grinding
  23. Kneading
  24. Combing
  25. Spinning
  26. Dying
  27. Chainstitching
  28. Warping
  29. Weaving
  30. Unraveling
  31. Building
  32. Demolishing
  33. Trapping
  34. Shearing
  35. Slaughtering
  36. Skinning
  37. Tanning
  38. Smoothing
  39. Marking
ou.org/publications/kaplan/shabbat/39.htm

Do you really want to keep all 613 Laws of Torah?

jewfaq.org/613.htm
 
sine dominico non possumus…without the Lords Day it is not possible to live…

In addition to avoiding “servile work” we are to also avoid other things that interfere with the Lords Day:

Catechism:

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.123 Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.
Code: 
The charity of truth seeks holy leisure- the necessity of charity accepts just work.124
(Also it notes: With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities.)

I urge you also to read the rest of the section in the CCC and to read Pope Benedict XVI:

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20070222_sacramentum-caritatis_en.html#The_eucharistic_form_of_the_christian_life
 
The catechism of the council of trent says that the OT 10 Commandment Law should be kept, yet some catholics are saying that the 10 Commandments were done away with. Which one is it? Do you follow the 10 Commandments or are they done away with?
 
Christ_First said:
The catechism of the council of trent says that the OT 10 Commandment Law should be kept, yet some catholics are saying that the 10 Commandments were done away with. Which one is it? Do you follow the 10 Commandments or are they done away with?
Click to expand...
The Church says they are not done away with 🙂 So yes they are followed.

But of course we are not under “the law” in the sense of all the prescriptions of the Torah…such as dietary etc Paul makes this very clear. Of course Gentiles were never under these anyhow…but they do not take them up when they become Christian.
 
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