16th Century traditions, Traditions

Dear George Mathew, Comment by you: “The point is, …

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Comment posted Some of the traditions and rituals among the Syrian Christians of Kerala by Jackson.

Dear George Mathew,

Comment by you: “The point is, should the Nasrani follow ‘Gentile Christianity’ by acknowledging ‘Sunday’ as the Shabbath or follow the original Jewish Nasrani beliefs of ‘Friday Sunset to Saturday Sunset’ Shabbath.”

THIS IS NOT A POINT AT ALL !! The concept of “Sabbath” as a day of rest or ceasation from labour is a 100% Hebraic/Judaic concept. It does not pour over to Christianity and as such there is no such “Christian Sabbath”. It was “invented” later for theory. So Sunday is not at all the “Sabbath” day. This is not what is meant by Sabbath. Some fools try to say so just to deride Judaism and establish Christianity as the other established religion, wiping off Judaism. This they justify by stating Jesus’s resurrection and thus saying Sunday replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. No, No, No. Saturday is still the Sabbath (for those concerned).

Sunday is the “Lord’s Day” when He rose from the dead and thus this day is when we commemorate the Eucharistic mysteries. This is attested and held true in the Acts of the Apostles. The early Christians (as seen in the NT) clearly marked “Saturday as Sabbath” and *Sunday as the Lord’s Day*, as distinct and separate.

Acts 20:7 “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

In the above the Eucharistic gathering is on the ‘first day of the week’ which cannot be Saturday then, but Sunday. As the disciples were Jewish and still continued with Saturday Sabbath (seventh day)… thus Sunday (next day) is the first day and the day for Eucharistic gathering. Here clearly we see Sunday is not the day the disciples were “resting” or “not preaching” but doing otherwise. So for them and for Christianity factually, Sunday is NOT the Sabbath. Later century modifications and edicts were released with political and anti-Judaic motives to establish Christianity’s *empirical superiority*. I am not bothered with this, nor do I buy later century “invented” definitions.

There are many such verses in the NT (esp. Acts) which describe Saturday as the Sabbath and not Sunday. Sunday is stated in the NT to be the Lord’s Day for ‘breaking of the bread’ (Qurbana).

So we are not doing anything wrong, except mixing up terms and terminologies and sounding like *pseudo-victims* for something which does not exist.

So my point, Sunday is NOT the Sabbath. Saturday still stands as Sabbath (for Jews and for Christians who already have practices in their families since ages passed down). Even many Jews do not observe all of their practices, forget the rest. Those who claim “Sunday is Sabbath” are simply historically and religiously wrong and confused with the basic concept of “Sabbath” for that matter. Nothing has replaced anything. Moreover, there are testimonies by early Church Fathers (3rd and 4th cent. AD) that both Saturday and Sunday had it’s own separate significance for all Christians, esp. Eastern Christianity then (except in Rome and Alexandria). Just google it, u will find the references and sources.

So, hopefully this issue is resolved. Actually, it wasnt an issue at all. For almost all Christians Sunday as Sabbath means lazying at home, having a feast and gulping down gallons of alcohol. Pinne palliyil pogan samayam ondengil pogum, vaya noki thirichi varam and get back to feasting….thats it. This is not Sabbath !! This generation knows nothing to make claims and assertions.

Now coming to practicality. Did your family ever have or has or have you even heard of any “Saturday traditions” from your family oral traditions or any practices in your family since ages that makes Saturday special ? Or forget all the practices for now, did ur family even have an oral tradition claiming Jewish origins before u took a DNA test ? If yes, u can advocate. If not, u stand pointless. Something done recently by you is not *heritage*, though u can start all over again from other sources. Still its not the original source, mind you, its second-hand.

My family (I’m sure many others too will have) does have some of such and other Judaic practices, passed down from elders. Yes. Till today, and u know them. That is exactly what is ancestral heritage we talk about. Not what is something newly added-on or must be added in future with changing times and up-coming archaelogical and scientific evidences. Anyway, I would like you to answer to my questions and comment on the “Sabbath” aspect also. And that Saturday is the Sabbath is what I first learnt from my grandparents and not online or from books or evidences. Now ur turn, and hope you take my criticism in the right spirit. You know what I’m speaking. Thanks.

Jackson