What About Sunday?

In my house, we never gave up giving something up on Sundays. I'd never even heard of that until a few years ago. It seemed like a cop-out, but then I heard actual theological reasoning on it—that with Sundays included Lent is actually 46 days, and that Sundays are always "feast" days, therefore you shouldn't fast ... there's more. And then I've since heard that argument disputed in a variety of ways. (Busted Halo has a podcast on this, but be warned: it sounds like an annoying morning zoo radio show.)

In the end, I hate the whole argument, because it goes back to my take on most issues of dogma, doctrine or religious practice: these are rules created by humans. Reasonable humans can dispute them and, in good faith, still be following the word of God as they understand it.

I'll be abstaining from chocolate tomorrow, just like the rest of Lent. But for those who are giving up giving up for the day: I won't think any less of you.

From today's readings: Isaiah

If you hold back your foot on the sabbath
from following your own pursuits on my holy day;
If you call the sabbath a delight,
and the LORD’s holy day honorable;
If you honor it by not following your ways,
seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice
Then you shall delight in the LORD,
and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth

For tomorrow, I aim to fulfill that promise of making Sunday the Lord's day. Not sure I'll be riding the heights of the earth any time soon, but let's see what happens if I can hold back my own interests and spend some time with God.