Sermon: The Sabbath, Wholly. June 3, 2018

Click here to watch, listen to, read, or download my sermon from Sunday, June 3 – the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, preached at Grace Lutheran Church, River Forest, IL.

As we enter into summertime, things seem to be slowing down just a little bit. Visions of rest, of vacation and relaxation, provide hope for restoration. And this is how we are wired. To rest. To keep Sabbath. In the gospel reading today, Jesus reminds us that the Sabbath was given as a gift to humankind. It is the built-in day to take a break. But it is not a break from doing anything at all; Jesus is clear about that. It is a break from working for ourselves, from giving into the lie that our work is what matters. Sabbath is an opportunity to refocus our lives in the proper direction: toward God, and toward neighbor. We rest in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and from there springs our most meaningful work.