Catechism 10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What does God require in the fourth and fifth commandments?

Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honour our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

(New City Catechism)

 

Where, then, is striving?

Do we

carve our mark into the soil

as though

it were ours to claim,

to own, to train, subdue

for our own gain,

to lay up for ourselves a future

free from bended knees?

 

What good is our labour?

Do we

work up sweaty brows from toil

as though

the day were ours to win,

as though each crop bore our

pride, our triumph

in its temporary flourishing,

its momentary grace?

 

Look to the flowers,

the birds.

Do they toil and strive? And yet,

though they

cannot gain tomorrow, look

how fine each thread, each crown!

Trust the hand which

orders, which shapes the tides and knows all

secrets and all truth:

 

Look to the Father

and trust

the shades of earthly order.

See how

wise, how deep, His stores.

For though from birth your hand

was born clutching, trust

and bow: your heart, like soil, must be tilled

before the harvest’s plenty.