Menikmati Hari Minggu: Bukan Sekedar Istirahat, Tapi Pertemuan Cinta dengan Sang Pencipta

Friday 15th week in ordinary time "Mt 12:1-8" At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." He said to them, "Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him? ...For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath." The Pharisees (they seem to always hunt in a pack) were obsessed with the things that 'could not' be done, but had no concern about the ones that 'should' be done. The seventh day of the week was meant to be especially devoted to God, but for them it was a day to 'avoid doing things'. Instead of doing things for God, it was a day to do nothing at all. But we know that the only really important thing on Sundays is the Holy Mass. Yet some may excuse themselves from going to Mass because it's their birthday - but then they should go to Mass and thank God for it! Or because some relatives come to visit - then bring them along to thank God for your family! Everything that we can enjoy on Sundays has been provided by Him, so how could we justify enjoying ourselves on Sunday... while leaving Him out of it? It would be like asking a friend to organise your party and, when everyone and everything is ready, kicking him out! In the year 304 AD, a group of 49 Christians were found guilty of having illegally celebrated Sunday worship at Abitinae, a Roman town in Africa. The priest Saturninus was interrogated and he held firm even under torture. His example was followed by all the others, both men and women, including four children. One of them, Emeritus, declared that they had met in his house. When he was asked why he had violated the emperor's law, he replied, "Sine Dominico non possumus" - without the Lord we cannot live, meaning the Holy Eucharist that the emperor had declared illegal, but in which they had chosen to participate even at the cost of being tortured and sentenced to death. Holy Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, help me never to haggle over my attendance and punctuality at Holy Mass.