I’ve always been a “Sunday fan” mostly starting the day with a church service and reserving the day for “fun things” and spending time with friends. One of my joys is art, and I lead docent tours at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville on the 3rd Sunday of each month. It’s a time to be together with other art lovers and just enjoy the art. 

In her Friday morning homily, the Rev. Margery Kennelly had an insightful explanation as to why I like the Sabbath so much and it all starts in Genesis. Here we hear the Creation Story where God recounts what those first seven days were like.

On the first day, God separated the light from darkness. “And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

On the second day, God made the Sky and separated it from the waters. “And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.”

On the third day, God brought forth vegetation with trees and plants. “And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.”

On the fourth day, God created the Sun, Moon and stars to separate the light from the darkness. “And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.”

On the fifth day, God created the sea creatures and everything that moves. “And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.”

On the sixth day, God made wild animals, cattle and everything that creeps on the ground. He declared everything He had made as “good.” Also on the sixth day, God made humankind and declared it, “very good.” “And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”

But on the seventh day, (Genesis 2:1-2): “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”

Margery reminded us that the Sabbath is different from the other days of the week. The first six days have a morning and evening and each time has a beginning and an end.

But not the seventh day. God declared it a “holy day”, a day of rest, and a day that never ends. In this way, God shows us what the kingdom is like---with an eternal life with Him that never ends.

Sunday, my Sabbath day, will remain as my favorite day of the week. I hope that you will take advantage of this day of rest and experience God’s undying love that started for you with the beginning of time.

Blessings, my friend,
Agatha