Steven M Schisler
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

“I don’t like going to church. I feel a lot closer to God in nature. (In my boat, on my deer stand or on the golf course).” “I don’t think I need to go to church every Sunday. I can just read my bible and get closer to God at home or on my patio.” “The music and prayers are so boring and old fashioned. The sermon is too long and I can’t relate to it anyway.” “I’d rather watch church or a preacher on tv and not face the crowd or get all dressed up.” “All the people at that church are hypocrites and sinners. I’m not going there!”

Our readings today (said EX 11:10–12:14, MT 12:1–8) give us a little insight on thinking and feeling this way and what we really SHOULD do. In Exodus, God gives Moses instruction on the Passover and its perpetual institution. In Matthew, Jesus and the disciples are criticized for nonchalantly picking grain and eating it as they walk through a field on the Sabbath. His critics said that doing that constituted “work”. Jesus tells them that “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Anytime we use any of the above excuses, or any other one except an illness or legitimate hardship for an excuse to not “keep Holy the Sabbath”, as the Commandments dictate, we are refusing Lordship to God. We are arrogantly and pridefully turning our nose up to God and claiming superiority… or we are just excusing our own laziness or selfishness. Jesus even regularly went to Synagogue, “as was His custom” (LK 4:16) to read the Scriptures and worship the Father in community. Do you think He ever heard someone less qualified to preach than Himself? Duh…. The Passover was instituted as a perpetual institution, meaning it should be celebrated perpetually. Jewish people do this customarily as a yearly observance. We Catholics see the Passover as the precursor to the Eucharistic Sacrifice of Christ and celebrate it as such each time we celebrate the Mass. That’s how we perpetually celebrate it. Jesus tells us that He is Lord of the Sabbath, and that whenever two or more or gathered in His name, He is there (MT 18:20). Why would we rather want to substitute Jesus’ ACTUAL & REAL. presence for a half-baked effort at solitude or quiet alone. Couldn’t we do BOTH on Sunday? Wouldn’t that make it even Holier? Doesn’t God deserve or best effort? Or maybe that’s where the problem lies, we aren’t humbling ourselves before God at all. Some things to think about… to pray about. Peace and All Good, my friends.

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Steven M Schisler

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Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Catholic Deacon, Secular Franciscan, Outdoorsman, Adventurer, Retired/Disabled Electrician/Field Superintendent/Project Manager/Vice-Pres