A sermon by Senior Minister John B. McCall, May 3, 2009
Mark 2:23-28
In just about 60 minutes I’ll be officially on sabbatical, the third in my ministry with you, now in our 20th year. Sabbaticals have become a common provision in pastoral calls in the United Church of Christ. It’s a wonderful perk, to be sure. I feel very fortunate to have three months away from my usual pastoral role. Adding my annual month of vacation I’ll be away from all pastoral duties until August 24. I don’t think I can quite comprehend that yet… sixteen weeks without being “on call,” and without evening meetings.
Elsa will be here with you and for you. And I have every reason to believe that the respect and affection you share with her will deepen when she has the opportunity to take the lead and be your first call in times of pastoral need.
But sabbatical is of mutual benefit both for pastor and for people, rooted deep in the scriptural story and in our understanding of God’s creative energy.
{It’s now just about 58 minutes until sabbatical… but who’s counting?}
My message this morning is in four brief parts: first, to understand better the what and why of sabbatical, then to look at scripture, then to tell you about my sabbatical plans, finally leading to the question: what are you doing in your own life to live in rhythm with God?
The word “sabbatical” shares the same root as the word “Sabbath” and both come from the Hebrew word Shabbat which means “seven.” Seven is a holy number in scripture connected with the Genesis story that tells us God created heaven and earth and all things in six days. At the end of each day God saw what God had created and said “this is good!” Then after six days of creative action God rested. The Children of Israel held the seventh day as sacred; a day different from all the others; a day set apart to God. Later, in the Ten Commandments we read “remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”
That used to be the rule for the faithful and the rule for the community. Six days to work and one day to God, family, rest, and prayerful reflection.
In much the same way, ancient story tells of the sabbatical year… a year set apart. After six years of planting and harvest God said to leave the fields fallow for a year so they could regain their nutrients and sustain crops once again. After six years of servitude, God instructed that slaves and servants should be allowed to rest. After six years of payment, Law said debts should be forgiven.
This isn’t an arbitrary act. It’s rooted in the deep truth that no one can do anything “24/7,” including God. Rest and reflection – a break away from the ordinary – is necessary for us to keep going. Look at the diminishing returns when you try to get by on too little sleep. Skip vacation and days off and you’ll start to look like the guy on the bulletin cover, yelling at his computer and everyone else.
Just how long do you think you can do that… and why would you want to? Resting doesn’t indicate weakness or lack of commitment to our work. It’s the essential ingredient that can keep us refreshed so we can keep going. So Sabbath and sabbatical are linked to the rhythms of earth and the rhythm of God.
Sabbath-keeping is prescribed in scripture. And it has been part of civil law in both Jewish and Christian communities across the ages. Keeping Sabbath means there’s to be no work for one day a week, though the exact meaning of the law is still debated to this day. In any case Jesus had a fairly broad interpretation of Sabbath laws. In today’s reading from Mark he was confronted by Pharisees who’d seen Jesus’ disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath – clearly “work” in their minds, and so prohibited by their strict reading of the law.
When the Pharisees challenged Jesus he answered their question with his own question – a favorite rabbinical tactic. “Why are your disciples breaking the Sabbath?” they asked… “Don’t you remember the time King David did the same,” he countered? (You’ll find this story in 1 Samuel 21). But the real importance of this encounter is in the punch line. “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath,” meaning Sabbath rest is a blessing not a burden. It’s a gift to enrich and refresh you, not a heartless demand that oppresses you.
Sabbath and sabbatical time give us several important reminders: they remind us that none of us is indispensible – the world goes on even when we’re not pushing it. They remind us that what we do should not define who we are. They remind us that each and all of us are utterly dependent on the grace of God.
So I go on sabbatical not because I’m cranky or grumpy (AM NOT!) but because it’s time for God to remind me that I’m not indispensible and that there is more to life than work. I love my work and I’m honored to work among you. Parish ministry is a high and holy calling, but it’s demanding work, nonetheless.
Tomorrow, I’ll leave for a conference in Chicago that’s intended to help long-term pastors set the stage for eventual retirement… that’s eventual, not imminent! At age 62, I intend to retire before another six years has passed. That’s all that’s certain. But I want to be sure that these next several years position us in the healthiest way we can manage, so that we are both prepared for our separation, and can move forward as well as possible.
After the seminar I’ll be on to Cincinnati to visit my son Jeremiah and his wife Olivia. I plan to take several short trips – to Boston and Worcester for family research, and to Cobscook Bay to spend time with my brother. I plan to read some, write some, and sit still and think a lot. I plan to try to do nothing for a while which is one of my least favorite activities.
I plan to do more than my share of the grocery shopping, meal preparation, and house cleaning because Andrea doesn’t get a sabbatical. And then for five weeks starting June 30, Andrea, Ben and I will be living in Bridge of Allan, Scotland – just a couple of miles from Sterling Castle. On Sunday mornings I’ll preach at the local church while their pastor, the Rev. Gillian Weighton will be preaching here. Many of you remember Gillian and her husband Alister from our exchange in 2003. I hear she’s delightful though we’ve never met. I hope you will welcome them warmly and show them our best hospitality.
Enough about me… the scriptural idea of Sabbath and sabbatical beg the question: what do you do in order to keep refreshed and renewed by living in tune with the rhythms of God? You’re not the exception, you know. No one can do “24/7” long-term. It harms the spirit and erodes the soul.
I know most of you now work, or have worked in places that don’t offer sabbatical. So how about mini-sabbaticals or, at least, true Sabbath.
• How about chiseling a day into you calendar for you and those you love?
• How about walking the beach at sunset, or
• taking a snow day even if it hasn’t snowed or
• stilling your mind for a half-hour each day for prayer and reflection?
• How about really keeping Sabbath: come to church and then devote the rest of the day to family, or to stillness?
• How about that Yoga class you never have time for?
You may not ever enjoy a true sabbatical, but I hope you’ll find alternate ways to gain the benefit. Jesus said: “The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humankind for the Sabbath.” Life gains deeper meaning when we life in harmony with the rhythms of God.
It’s now just about 48 minutes until sabbatical… but who’s counting?