Theology Thursdays- Deeper Sabbaths

With the celebration of Sukkot occuring this week, I posted this pic of our makeshift  ghetto-style semi-sukkah on FB and caused a mini ruckus when people (Jews, Messianics, Catholics, and protestants alike) were scandalized, yet again, at our observation of a Jewish holiday. 

Last week, a friend and I were doing a bible study and we came across the subject of observing the Sabbath and making holy the day. We talked about special ways we can mark the time on the weekends, teaching our kids to sanctify each day, and Sunday in a special way.
Then we talked about the "Saturday" Sabbath of the Old Covenant, and how much value we found in remembering it and meditating on it.

Whenever I get on the topic of anything remotely Hebrew Catholic in origin, people get offended. As they did yesterday when I explained to my kids the virtues of knowing about and celebrating Sukkot. Meditation on this topic always brings me back to principle question we discussed last week in bible study... how to observe the Sunday Lord's Day,  and how to remember the Jews in our religious observance, for example, on Saturdays, and not leave them behind. If we Christians truly believe that they were both chosen and veiled from Truth, we do well to both draw near and remember and teach the lessons which were unveiled to us... as well as be thankful and merciful, for it is by God's grace alone that we heard and recognized the saving gospel as Truth.

The "scandalization" that occurs whenever I post about jewish stuff/ do jewish stuff usually comes in about three forms and from well meaning people, but I'll address them here before I move on to the real topic because by the time I'm done you might be asking the same questions:

1. WHY are you teaching your kids jewish stuff??? We are not jews, we are Catholic, and so jews are wrong and so are you for teaching your kids jewish things.
I can think of about ten or twelve different reasons why it's important to our family (or at least to ME, not as much to my husband) to include jewish traditions in teaching my children about life. I'll spare you the long version, and just say that the number one reason to do it is because of catechesis. At some point, some day, my kids will encounter Judaism. And I want them to understand why we chose Catholicism over Judaism, but I also want them to understand why Judaism MATTERS, something which escapes many, many Christians.

2. WHY are you teaching your kids jewish stuff?? We are jewish, you are not, you are CATHOLIC, and so you are wrong for stealing our traditions and calling them yours.
Among the many responses I could give, I think the most important one here would be: why? Does it harm Judaism for us to observe a Jewish holiday and say it is good and important to know and understand? In following the guidelines set forth by our wise Catholic Bishops, we make no attempt to "Christianize" the traditions and rituals, rather giving them to the children and our guests as "correctly" as we can forseeably put them out there. If, for example, we are unable to do it exactly, we explain the "proper" Jewish way to do it (for example here with our "tent" sukkah vs the branches which are called for as a roof.) If we had local families nearby who were interested in Jewish things, we solemnly attest to the fact that we would gladly participate in these things with "real" (eyeroll... it gets so complex as an issue)  Jews and not using the hundreds of altered "Messianic" versions out there. We want our kids to understand that these things ARE Jewish, are not Christian, and that they POINT to the hope and God-given task of the Jewish People... a hope which we believe is fulfilled in our messiah, Yeshua.

3. WHY are you teaching your kids jewish stuff?? You are too weird/religious/zealous etc. 
Yep. Yep, we are.  Not gonna argue with that one. :)

OK, so with that out of the way, let's talk about our Sabbaths. I've already dissected the entire Sabbath issue here and here. Read those first for the background (and plan on it taking a while, haha)

So now, assuming that we understand that the LORD'S DAY (Sunday) is the Christian "Sabbath" requirement, as ordained by the Catholic Church, because of the resurrection of Our Lord, and assuming we understand that SATURDAY SABBATH KEEPING is a SIGN of the Jewish presence in the world and therefore important, whether Jews or Protestants or Catholics are doing it, because it reminds the world that God is here and has a plan for us... then we understand that for some people, SANCTIFYING the weekend within the context of our secular lives (and not just Saturday or Sunday) is important. Like us people-- the people in this house.

No matter what these people are doing to mark the time.... a special "something" on a Saturday that lifts the heart to God is a sign of the love of God for His Jewish people as well as a sign of obedience to the Church, in which we give honor to God's Chosen... Mary... a jewish girl who said YES to God. (there are so many interesting things about that-- like the fact that Jewish tradition calls the Sabbath "she" and says it's like an extra soul comes to visit that day.)

Like everything else, our wise Bishops have pointed out that while it is good for us to participate in this Jewish life to some degree, we are not to "Christianize" it on purpose, because we must remember that there IS an official prayer of the Church and that  Judaism is the ROOT of that prayer and not the FRUIT. Therefore any "Jewish" observance by Catholics must be (a) for the purpose of preserving the Hebrew Culture in the world and in the Church and (b) for the purpose of participating as much as we can in the spiritual and communal life of the Jew, as a sign to the world of our solidarity with him. We must make every attempt not to scandalize the Jew nor the Catholic, knowing of course that both will be ... perplexed, at best. However, we who have been called must make every effort to persevere to preach the Gospel of life and salvation as a whole and complete message, beginning at Creation and moving through the story of the Hebrews and into the era of the Church, which is the New Israel. Despite that status, there is a special PLACE for the Jews in God's plan, and we do well to know it and understand it.

There are Hebrew Catholics all over the place who have various reasons for calling themselves so. Some are converts, some are descendants of jews, some are simply observing hebrew traditions in a Catholic context. The most important thing to remember is that the majority of Hebrew Catholics are Catholics living in Israel who, just as the Catholics living in Israel at the time of Christ and later, during the early church, are immersed in a Hebrew culture and life which is all around them, and who desire to maintain those things as expressions of their family traditions and values.
Just as we wouldn't ask a Southern French Catholic to cease dressing up in traditional costumes and baking olive oil breads, or a japanese Catholic to stop eating sushi and bowing to say hello, we wouldn't ask a Hebrew Catholic to stop baking Challah and start working on Saturdays. Aside from being a religious concept, it's just part of the culture.

Here in Fayetteville, I attend a Maronite parish where we serve Lebanese foods, hold lebanese-style parties, and play lebanese music. Many of us dress lebanese-style and speak Arabic and French. Our liturgy is in syriac-aramaic and lots of people who accidentally walk in wonder if we are some kind of muslim church.

 My traditional Catholic friends and acquaintances do not take issue with the Maronite Rite and in fact, find it marvelous. I am not sure why those same traditional catholics, then, take issue with those of us who seek to maintain an authentically JEWISH culture/liturgy etc for those who have perfectly valid reasons for doing so.


All I know is.... it's kinda silly. Especially since, of all the cultures in the entire world, only the Jews can claim to have a literal life of tradition and family rooted in the worship of OUR God, and not the Pagan gods or secular ideas, at every turn. For theologians, Judaism is a signpost. It is a wonder. It is a delight. It is a gift, and a blessing! All other cultures and traditions have been sanctified by the Catholic Church but only the Jewish traditions have, from the beginning, been about God's business, twice sanctified when God came to earth as a Jewish child through a Jewish mother in a Jewish, observant home.

So, for those of us (and we are many!) who feel tugged in the direction of celebrating God's gift to us in the Jewish presence in the world (a gift which, like all his gifts, is completely free but not without responsibility!)
WHAT can we do to make sense out of our weekends? Some people light the Sabbath Lights on Saturday night, finding meaning in lighting their lights as their Jewish friends and family are finishing up Havdallah, the rite of closing (called the Rite of SEPARATION-- notice anything profound there??-- of the Jewish Sabbath.)
This is what my husband prefers I do.

Others find meaning in lighting their sabbath lights on Friday night, along with all the Jews in the world, and simply Sabbath keeping all weekend long. There is no "right" way to do it and the only danger is that you lose sight of the fact that SUNDAY is THE primary day on which you are required to attend mass, feast, and refrain from unnecessary servile work and money spending.

At first, my husband couldn't understand why I get all misty-eyed about silly little candle lighting ceremony. But think about it!! Catholics, you know how wonderful and amazing it is to light the advent candles.... the sabbath lights for Jews are like advent candles all year long, shining brightly with the hope that as they trust in God and repent, He will send His Messiah. It's powerful. Even more so when you know for a fact that that Messiah WAS and IS and IS TO COME.

Me? In obedience to my husband, I light the Sabbath lights with my kids on Saturdays. Maybe one day he will let me light them on Fridays, but I'm not holding my breath. :D
In solidarity with all Israel, though,  I stop at every Friday sundown, gathering my children for a brief prayer before a lit candle in front of our statue of the Blessed Virgin.

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Your altar. We are Yours and Yours we wish to be;but to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known You; many too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Your Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord,not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You,but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to Your Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions,or whom discord keeps aloof,and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith,so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be You King also of all those who sit in the ancient superstition of the Gentiles, and refuse not to deliver them out of darkness into the light and kingdom of God. Grant, O Lord, to Your Church,assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;give peace and order to all nations,and make the Earth resound from pole to pole with one cry:Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation;to it be glory and honour forever. Amen. (for those Catholics in the know, we use the older Pre-Vat II version of this prayer ;))

On Friday nights as the Sabbath begins, Jews CELEBRATE, as they are commanded to do. We Christians, however, fast and remember the death of Our Lord on the Cross. I find it profound that we who have so much in common and yet have such opposite commandments on this night, and it makes me solemn and prayerful.

Abstaining from meat and having a simple meal when your jewish friends and family are celebrating and eating a roast is a great way to remember that there IS a separation between Jews and Christians, and also a great way to remember the needs of the world... that we are called to be a healing balm, but that for us, that healing begins with the Cross, which is sorrow but also victory through our suffering. We offer up our Friday night sacrifice and lights for God's care of the Jewish people, and all those who haven't yet come to the Light of Christ.

On Saturdays, Jews attend Sabbath services and remain at home, celebrating and resting and soaking in the Sabbath. Some Catholic things to do on a Saturday might be confession, attending mass, and praying the rosary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary who we celebrate on Saturdays. In the Secular world, Saturday is a family day-- a day to go to Lowe's, or take a walk, or grill outside. 

Our Family combines a prayerful, restful, family day with anything we might "HAVE" to do in order to rightly observe the Lord's Day the next day. We tend to take it easy and avoid things like errand running or mindless stuff, choosing instead the things which bond us as a family and require little or no work. (without getting legalistic about it.... sometimes Saturday is the only day you get to mow the lawn.) 

We go to confession, attend mass, reminded that at sunset as we are lighting the two candles at the altar, our Jewish friends are finishing up Havdalah. Because we did as much prep work as humanly possible on Friday, our weekends are free of chores and errands altogether, but we do have to work a little... giving the kids a bath to prepare them for Sunday, studying a lesson we missed in Catechism that week, or baking the next day's breads. Saturdays pass quickly in this peacefully busy calm and enjoyable prep day in which we simply all enjoying BEING with no real agenda and only the ordinary work of living to do. We usually find we have time to invite friends for dinner (and note that for Catholics, the Lord's Day starts the Saturday evening... just in time to celebrate!)  

Both Saturday and Sunday mornings are reserved for "special" breakfasts and both Saturday and Sunday lunches are effortless, at home, and enjoyable. Both Saturday and Sunday evenings are celebratory and enjoyable, requiring a minimum of effort for a maximum "homey" impact. I bake Challah on Fridays and French bread on Saturdays. We reserve Sundays for our family as much as possible, denying people the hospitality we try to give as much as we can during the week. Sundays we re-charge, enjoy each other alone, and take some much-needed time to be together doing ... nothing. Like taking a family nap, a favorite Sunday activity. We aren't allowed to buy and sell, so we don't go out to eat if we can avoid it and we certainly don't run errands. Sundays are family days, plain and simple. 

... and in this way, our whole weekend passes like a soothing balm for our souls. From sunset Friday to Sunrise Monday, our house is peace (as much as possible) and in a special way, we are always reminded that we are not alone walking this earth.
We share it with others and it is our responsibility to do our part to cooperate with God and bring healing to this world through our work and actions.
Co-incidentally, that is a highly Jewish concept. And it is good. :)

Shabbat Shalom.

For more information about other people who live like we do, please visit the website of the association of hebrew catholics.