As a child, fall’s unwelcomed presence marked the end of summer’s carefree days. As an adult I’ve come to greatly appreciate the leisurely days of summer as well, where a handful of chores seem to be my only real responsibility. In our busy lives, we often crave this reprieve from the cycle of work, chores and errands. As Christians, we are given a weekly respite where we can step away from our daily duties and enter into God’s rest. 

The Catechism describes Sunday as a “day of joy and rest from work.” (CCC 1193) Its biblical roots stem from creation’s seventh day, where God worked for six days and rested on the seventh. (Gen 2:2) So important is rest that God commanded it when giving the Law on Mount Sinai: “Six days you may labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest.” (Ex 34:21)
With the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday, Sunday rest takes on a new meaning: It both restores and offers a foretaste of eternal life. Sunday, St. John Paul II preached in Dies Domini, stands at the heart of the Christian life, for the human heart is made for worship. Centered upon worship, Sunday culminates in the Eucharist, the sacrament of charity, whereby we are fused to Christ, and through him, to our brothers and sisters, the members of his Body.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve walked in God’s presence. They lived in communion with him and with each other. The Mass reawakens this interior disposition within us. It seeks to restore the original communion, first lost in Eden, for there we encounter the living God whom we receive into our souls. There he abides within us and draws us into communion with others. 
This communion is meant to be lived. The final dismissal of the Mass sends us out, bearing Christ into the world to share him with others. But to be his disciples and to effectively communicate the Gospel, we must first retain this rest – this communion with God. This is why the Church prioritizes Sunday leisure, and dedicates it as a day of prayer and one spent in community.
 

To live Sunday rest more intentionally, consider the following: 

 Nourish your spirit
Allow yourself to be fed by Christ through the Eucharist and his Word. Spend half an hour in spiritual reading: read the Scriptures (start with the day’s readings or a Gospel account), or pick up a saint’s biography.
 Engage in community
Grow in a deeper relationship with the people around you by reserving Sundays for family dinner or helping your community through works of mercy. (CCC 2185) 
 Experience wonder
God made the beauties of creation for us – the crown of his creation. He took time to rest and contemplate creation, not because he was tired, but to be an example to us. Enter into God’s rest by enjoying creation’s goodness. 
 Pursue hobbies
Rearrange your week so that pressing chores and errands are finished by Sunday. Take time to rest and create.  

This month, rejuvenate your mind, body and soul by honoring God’s Sunday rest. As St. John Paul II reminds, “time given to Christ is never time lost, but is rather time gained.” Let holy leisure renew you, so your relationships and “[your] whole life may become more profoundly human.” (DD 7)