Give Up Working on Sunday for Lent
Connecting with Family and Church Can Make the Lenten Season Holy
Feb 27, 2009
Catholics who are looking to give up something for Lent this year that will help them grow closer to God may want to consider giving up working on Sunday. In a society that values being busy, a packed calendar often overlooks the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. But giving up working on Sunday for Lent can be a great way to spend time connecting with family at home and at church.
Choosing What to Give Up for Lent
There are two common schools of thought about what to give up for Lent. Some people choose to give up a vice or conquer an addiction that separates them from God. Others choose to give up something harmless that they love as a form of sacrifice and penance. Both methods help the Catholic Christian to grow closer to God. Another popular option for the Lenten season is to add Bible devotions, prayer time or increase church attendance. Giving up working on Sunday combines all three of these aspects of the Lenten season.
Give Up Working on Sunday
While working on Sunday may be a necessity for those who don’t work a regular five-day workweek, many Catholics choose to use Sunday as a day to catch up on housework and run errands. These activities may not be a vice or an addiction, but they can lead to feeling separated from God and family when the constant busyness eliminates quality time spent with family and church. Instead of choosing to overlook the commandment to avoid unnecessary labor on the Sabbath, Sunday can be a time of rest, relaxation and connecting with family and God.
Reschedule Housework to Keep the Sabbath Holy
Just as abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during Lent requires advanced menu planning, an awareness of food choices throughout the day and a mindfulness of sacrifice and penance, giving up working on Sunday requires forethought and planning. Giving up working on Sundays during Lent does not mean that for 40 days the housework is abandoned, errands are not run and family business is ignored. Rescheduling housework and errands for other days of the week may require some sacrifice in order to get everything done. Perhaps a favorite television show is missed while making a late run to the grocery store or an extra load of laundry is run on Saturday night to make sure a sports uniform is ready for Monday morning.
Connecting With Family During Lent
Freeing up an entire day with no obligations can leave a big void in the family schedule. Using the free time to add Bible devotions, prayer time, church attendance, family time and rest time can make the Lenten season one of true spiritual growth and family closeness. Connecting with family can mean making a call to distant family members, visiting relatives in a nursing home or spending time together with a spouse or children. Consider what the perfect day would look like in terms of spending some time with family, God and church, then make that perfect day a reality with careful planning.
Choosing to give up working on Sunday for Lent can help to make the Lenten season one of spiritual growth and family closeness. Giving up working on Sunday can combine seeking closeness with God, sacrifice and penance, and adding devotions. A holy Lenten season will result in a holy Easter Sunday.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
