Christians Free from the Ceremonial Laws

Hey everyone,

Welcome to The Sunday Catholic Word, a podcast where we reflect on the upcoming Sunday Mass readings and pick out the details that are relevant for explaining and defending our Catholic faith.

I’m Karlo Broussard, staff apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers, and the host for this podcast.

In this episode, we’re going to focus on two details in the readings for this upcoming 16^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B. The first detail is found in the second reading, taken from Ephesians 2:13-18. The relevant apologetical topic is that we as Christians are no longer bound by the ceremonial precepts of the Old Covenant, which would include the Sabbath. The second detail is in the Gospel reading, which is taken from Mark 6:30-34. The relevant topic, which isn’t all that apologetical in nature, is the Church’s teaching on the proper rest that needs to be taken on the Lord’s Day.

Let’s start with Paul, from Ephesians 2:13-18. Here’s the whole passage:

In Christ Jesus you who once were far off have become near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he who made both one and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims, that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile both with God, in one body, through the cross, putting that enmity to death by it. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

The detail that I want to focus in on is Paul’s teaching that Christ “broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his flesh, abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims.”

The question becomes, “Which law?” “Which claims?”

Consider that the “dividing wall” refers to a wall in the Jerusalem Temple that separated the different precincts at the Temple where the Gentiles and Israelites could pray. The Gentiles prayed in the outer courts and the Israelites prayed and offered sacrifice in the inner courts.

This is the context that illumines the aspects of the law and legal claims that he has in mind. Whatever aspects of the law and legal claims that pertained only to the Jews and not the Gentiles are the ones that Paul says are abolished.

Now, this can’t refer to the Ten Commandments, which according to Romans 2:14-15 is merely a revealed expression of the natural moral law, because such a law applies to both Jews and Gentiles insofar as they are all human beings. Therefore, Paul must be referring to those aspects of the law and legal claims that were specific to the Jews and their way of life, which separated them from the Gentiles. This would include circumcision, animal sacrifice, dietary laws, festival days, the Sabbath, etc.

This is apologetically significant because, as many of you listening know, Seventh Day Adventist claim that we as Christians are still bound to keep the Sabbath—that’s to say, we must worship God on Saturday. But Paul’s teaching in our second reading proves otherwise.

Paul teaches this elsewhere. Consider, for example, Colossians 2:16. There Paul writes, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.”

By “food and drink” he means all the laws given to the Israelites concerning what they could and could not eat and drink. The other three items are found clustered together as well in 2 Chronicles 8:13.

By “festival” Paul means the yearly festivals, like the feast of unleavened bread (Passover), the feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles. By “new moon” he means the monthly feast. And by “sabbaths” (plural), Paul means either the Sabbath that is celebrated weekly or both the weekly Sabbath and the weeks of years spoken of in Leviticus 25:8 (and a variety of other passages), which were called sabbaths.

Now, notice that no one is to pass judgment on Christians concerning “sabbaths” just as no one can pass judgment on them concerning “food and drink,” the yearly festivals, and the new moon monthly feasts. This means that Christians are no longer bound to hold to the Sabbath law just as they are no longer bound to hold fast to Mosaic law’s precepts governing these other things.

So, the Seventh Day Adventist claim is falsified by Paul’s teaching in both our second reading, Ephesians 2:13-18 and Colossians 2:16.

Let’s now turn to the Gospel reading, which, again, is taken from Mark 6:30-34. Here’s what we read,

The apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat. So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place. People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

The detail that I want to zero in on is the idea of the apostles having to rest after their laborious work for the Lord.

One level of reflection would be the need for us to achieve appropriate rest within the context of ministry. Another level is the need to achieve appropriate rest on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.

Interestingly, this detail is related to the previous detail about the Sabbath. Even though we’re no longer bound to observe the Sabbath, the idea of rest does carry over to our celebration of Sunday, the Lord’s Day.

Now, rest on the Lord’s Day doesn’t normally have any apologetical importance. However, insofar as there may be some who have extreme ideas as to what Sunday “rest” is, I supposed the information that I will share can take on an apologetical character.

I simply want to walk through what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says about rest on the Lord’s Day. Surprisingly, it has quite a bit to say about it.

Let’s start with paragraph 2184. Here, the Catechism simply states that we need rest on the Lord’s Day. It states, “The institution of the Lord’s Day helps everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives.”

Paragraph 2185 is where the Catechism begins to get a bit more specific as to what this rest involves and doesn’t involve. It states,

On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

Notice the Catechism forbids work that would “hinder the worship owed to God”
and the “joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body.” It does not forbid work absolutely. This implies that some work can be done, on condition it doesn’t conflict with these important things.

The Catechism acknowledges there can be just reasons for work: family needs and important social services. To this point, the Catechism goes on to quote St. Augustine from book 19 of his City of God: “The charity of truth seeks holy leisure; the necessity of charity accepts just work.”

Now, the Catechism goes on, in paragraph 2186, to specify a few things that can make up the “rest” on Sundays. It lists:

• Devoting time and care to their families and relatives,
• Reflection,
• Silence,
• Cultivation of the mind, and
• Meditation (not eastern stuff, but Christian reflection on the life of Christ)

In Paragraph 2187, the Catechism focuses on the common effort needed to sanctify Sundays. It states,

Sanctifying Sundays and holy days requires a common effort. Every Christian should avoid making unnecessary demands on others that would hinder them from observing the Lord’s Day. Traditional activities (sport, restaurants, etc.), and social necessities (public services, etc.), require some people to work on Sundays, but everyone should still take care to set aside sufficient time for leisure. With temperance and charity the faithful will see to it that they avoid the excesses and violence sometimes associated with popular leisure activities. In spite of economic constraints, public authorities should ensure citizens a time intended for rest and divine worship. Employers have a similar obligation toward their employees.

Finally, the Catechism affirms the good of Sunday rest and leisure for the society, stating,

In respecting religious liberty and the common good of all, Christians should seek recognition of Sundays and the Church’s holy days as legal holidays. They have to give everyone a public example of prayer, respect, and joy and defend their traditions as a precious contribution to the spiritual life of society. If a country’s legislation or other reasons require work on Sunday, the day should nevertheless be lived as the day of our deliverance which lets us share in this “festal gathering,” this “assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.”

Conclusion

So, the readings for this upcoming 16^th Sunday of Ordinary Time don’t give us too much apologetical material. But it does give enough for reflecting on

• The issue of whether we’re bound as Christians to worship on Saturdays, and
• A proper understanding of the rest we’re called to on the Lord’s Day.

As always, thank you for subscribing to the podcast. And please be sure to tell your friends about it and invite them to subscribe as well at sundaycatholicword.com. You might also want to check out the other great podcasts in our Catholic Answers podcast network: Cy Kellet’s Catholic Answers Focus, Trent Horn’s The Counsel of Trent, Joe Heschmeyer’s Shameless Popery, and Jimmy Akin’s A Daily Defense, all of which can be found at catholic.com.

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I hope you have a blessed 16^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B. Until next time, God Bless!