You can listen to this reflection here.
My congregations are doing a worship series this Lent on the spiritual practice of Sabbath-keeping. Many Sundays we will deviate from the lectionary. On those weeks, Friday’s Water Daily will focus on my chosen gospel reading. This week that is Matthew 11:28 – 12:8, which contains an invitation we ignore at our peril: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Do you know anyone who is not carrying heavy burdens, who is not in need of rest? Our 24/7/365 culture promotes exhaustion and burn-out, not rest, relaxation, recharging. Most Christians, even those who would post the Ten Commandments in every school and government office, routinely ignore the fourth one: “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” Why do we so resist this invitation to rest in God? Why has the Christian faith become so associated with work and responsibility, when Jesus invited people to follow him, to leave their burdens behind and join his mission?
Maybe it's because human beings are hardwired to seek contracts not covenants – we like to earn our rewards, not have them given to us. Working for it leaves us in control – and if we’re in control we can choose not to enjoy our rewards, and just keep working for more. But our brains and our bodies need fallow time as much as do the fields and the workers and the animals around us. When I do manage to keep sabbath I find myself much readier to work the next day; I’m more centered, less prone to irritation, more attuned to Holy Spirit nudges.
Can we reclaim this spiritual practice that goes back to the very creation of the world? Like all spiritual practices, this one takes practice – but we can do it. Some religious communities still practice sabbath-keeping, and we can learn from them. We don’t have to be rigid about how we approach it. For me, a sabbath day is any 24-hour period when I refrain from being productive, from anything that would be on my to-do list. If making a dinner for 12 is creative and life-giving for you, do it on the sabbath; if it’s work, don’t.
Jesus invites us to put off the yokes that drive us like oxen in the fields, and take on his yoke – which he says is light and leads to peace and joy. That is one reason I urge us to try this practice on for Lent – peace and joy are scarce commodities in the world right now. If we, as the people of God practicing Jesus’ Way of Love, can become more grounded in the peace of Christ, we have something vital to share with those around us. Gain more by doing less!
© Kate Heichler, 2025. To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Here are the bible readings for next Sunday. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.
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