I. The Sabbath Day
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The third commandment of the Decalogue recalls the holiness of the sabbath:
"The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the
LORD."92
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In speaking of the sabbath Scripture recalls creation: "For in six days
the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested
the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed
it."93
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Scripture also reveals in the Lord's day a memorial of Israel's liberation from
bondage in Egypt: "You shall remember that you were a servant in the land
of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out thence with mighty hand and
outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath
day."94
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God entrusted the sabbath to Israel to keep as a sign of the irrevocable
covenant.95 The sabbath is for the Lord, holy and set apart for the
praise of God, his work of creation, and his saving actions on behalf of
Israel.
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God's action is the model for human action. If God "rested and was
refreshed" on the seventh day, man too ought to "rest" and
should let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed."96 The
sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of
protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money.97
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The Gospel reports many incidents when Jesus was accused of violating the
sabbath law. But Jesus never fails to respect the holiness of this day.98
He gives this law its authentic and authoritative interpretation: "The
sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath."99 With
compassion, Christ declares the sabbath for doing good rather than harm, for
saving life rather than killing.100 The sabbath is the day of the Lord
of mercies and a day to honor God.101 "The Son of Man is lord even
of the sabbath."102
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