Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall raise the sheaf before the Lord, that you may find acceptance; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall raise it.”
NL Daily Devotion for Monday, August 28, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Sabbath is a natural part of our spiritual life. It’s an anchor. A centering practice around which the rest of our life can be built. In this law of Moses, the priests will dedicate the first fruits to God not just on some random occasion, but “on the day after the sabbath.” Every part of life in God’s beloved community can be seen in relation to sabbath rest. As with the collecting of a double portion of manna the day before the sabbath, here is another practice to be carried out the day after the sabbath.
I wonder how our lives could be more centered and peaceful if we practiced this idea of seeing everything we do in relation to God’s command to rest. Not in a frantic “everybody’s working for the weekend” kind of way. But in a mindful way—just taking a moment now and then to remember that rest is integral to our physical, emotional, and spiritual health, and to reflect on the most recent sabbath while looking toward the next one. I imagine it would go a long way toward keeping us in balance and more connected to God in the day-to-day.
How can I put sabbath rest at the center of my life?
