Catechetics – Catholic Writers Guild

Rest and Celebration

By Isabelle Wood

“And on the seventh day God finished the work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that He had done in creation.”—Genesis 2:2–3

“These are the appointed festivals of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall celebrate at the time appointed for them.”—Leviticus 23:4 (NRSVCE)

We live in a busy world.

We have to make it to that class or this meeting, go to this family event, drop one kid off at practice, go watch another’s band concert, and get that work presentation done before Monday, all while trying to make sure we get the laundry done, get food made, and keep the house clean… and so on and so forth.

So, it’s no surprise that our culture naturally assumes that all the “rules” of Catholicism merely add to the never-ending to-do list.

But while the rules and following God’s commandments are part of it, they’re not the foundation. The world sees the rules and gives the verdict of “miserable” without digging deeper to the why behind the rules. But the saints—those who lived Catholicism to the fullest—weren’t miserable; they were the happiest people who ever lived because they knew the point:

God’s love for us, and our love for Him in response.

God doesn’t want us to be miserable. He loves us. What faith other than Catholicism mandates rest so we can be refreshed and rejuvenated? And did you know that the root of the word holiday is holy day because it’s Catholicism that’s given us so many of our holidays?

Yes, we’re expected to put in the work and follow God’s commandments, but God is also a loving Father Who doesn’t expect us to burn ourselves out. He wants us to have the rest we need and to be able to celebrate and enjoy life.

So maybe, this Sunday, try to take some time to rest and celebrate the good news of the Gospel. Because Catholicism truly is the best way to live.

Edited by Gabriella Batel

Photo copyright Canva

God’s Prime Minister

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” —Matthew 16:18–19 (ESV)

Most of us Catholics know that when Jesus handed Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, He was establishing Peter as the first pope. And as we read Acts during the Easter season, it’s a great time to see how Peter boldly and faithfully achieved this role.

However, what fewer people know is that Jesus wasn’t doing something new. He was fulfilling the practice of the Old Testament kings by establishing a prime minister: a man who managed the king’s affairs and had charge of the palace… and, therefore, its keys (Isaiah 22:15–25). This is exactly what Jesus was giving Peter—and all subsequent popes—the power and the charge to do.

So, let’s remember that the pope is God’s righthand man on Earth and has charge of the keys of the kingdom and deserves our allegiance while we await the return of the King.

Edited by Gabriella Batel

Rest and Celebration

Rest and Celebration

God’s Prime Minister

God’s Prime Minister

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