The Bishop Writes

(From the Sept. 10, 1998 edition of the Inland Register)

Pope John Paul II on July 7 issued an apostolic letter titled "The Day of the Lord." In it, he stressed the importance of the celebration of Sunday and more specifically of the Eucharist which is so central to our faith life in the Church. The timeliness of the Holy Father’s instruction goes without saying. Its content provides much food for thought as we reflect on the quality of our daily living and especially the attitude we have toward Sunday, the Lord’s day. I would like to summarize very briefly the content of the letter.

He begins by stating that Sunday has always had special prominence in the Church because of its close connection with the core of the Christian mystery. Every Sunday we remember the resurrection of Jesus, truly the dawn of a new day in salvation history. From Psalm 118, we hear the familiar ring of the joyful proclamation: "This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." The fathers of the Second Vatican Council said, "Every seven days the Church celebrates the Easter mystery. This tradition going back to the apostles takes its origin from the actual day of Christ’s Resurrection." As we approach the millennium, we are invited to rediscover with new intensity the meaning of Sunday: its "mystery," its celebration, its significance.

Profound modifications of social behavior and changes in the socioeconomic situation in our culture have had a significant impact on our tradition. Today we look more to the weekend rather than to Sunday. When Sunday loses its fundamental meaning and merely becomes part of the weekend, people can be locked into a horizon in which they no longer see "the heavens." Sunday should be at the heart of the Christian life. We acknowledge this because we firmly believe such discovery will respond to the deepest yearnings of the human heart. The time we give to Christ is not time wasted or lost, but rather is time gained, so that our relations, and indeed, our whole lives might be more profoundly human.

The Holy Father then offers fives points for reflection about the importance of Sunday:

• Sunday celebrates the Creator’s work. It is the festival day of a "new creation." The words of St. Paul to the Colossians are most appropriate: "In him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ... All things were created through him and for him." With all of our modern technology and scientific improvements, we must remember God’s creation is unceasing. In the creation account from the Book of Genesis, God rested on the seventh day "and saw that it was good." There is something awesome and joyful in that acknowledgment.
• Sunday is the day of the risen Lord and the Holy Spirit. We celebrate Sunday because of the Resurrection of Jesus. This celebration occurs not only at Easter but at the beginning of each week. St. Augustine called Sunday the "sacrament of Easter." Sunday as the day of light is also called the day of fire in reference to the Holy Spirit. Wind and fire on a Sunday 50 days after Easter descended upon the apostles. On the threshold the millennium, we Christians should remember that Sunday remains an indispensable part of our Christian identity.
• Sunday is the day of the Eucharistic assembly. The gathering of the faithful on Sunday for Eucharist is so vital to our tradition. The Eucharist feeds and forms our Church. The mystery of the Church is savored, proclaimed and lived profoundly in the Eucharist. The gathering of the community for Eucharist is a privileged place of unity. It’s a wonderful expression of the identity and ministry of our families as "domestic churches." Sunday knows no end but continues to be a great day of hope while we wait "in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ." Sunday is the day we celebrate Eucharist at the table of the Word and the table of the Body of Christ. The early Christian Church took very seriously this invitation as part of their identity. Before she was killed, a young lady martyr exclaimed: "Yes, I went to the assembly and I celebrated the Lord’s Supper with my brothers and sisters, because I am a Christian." We should not allow ourselves to be caught up in indifference and unresponsiveness to the Gospel message.
• Sunday is the day of joy, rest and solidarity. There is a natural festive character about Sunday. This day fulfills in a special way the Old Testament concept of the Sabbath. Eucharist is the place where fraternity becomes practical solidarity, where the last are first.
• Sunday is the day revealing the meaning of time. We all live in graced time, when every moment and season can be sacred. The Lord is with us. The Sundays of the year also bring us into contact with the liturgical seasons as we celebrate Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost.

Finally, we can celebrate our salvation on Sunday. Sunday is a true school. It’s a day of testimony and proclamation. We are invited to look ahead. A more faithful observance of Sunday can help us build a civilization of love.

These observations and insights from Pope John Paul II can help us reflect on the importance of this day on our journey of faith, provide opportunity for renewal in our hearts and in our faith community, and help us appreciate how wonderfully good our gracious God has been to us.

May God bless you and give you peace.

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