Because of the Human Fall, Neither God nor Humankind Could Enjoy this Sabbath

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1854

No matter how dirty the water, it knows how to balance itself. People should also know how to balance themselves. My coming here to Jardim does not mean I have some special relationship with Brazil. There are people living here representing the five colors of different races. Although I do not speak their language, I do not think that they are a different species. They are my kin – my younger brothers and sisters. I am meeting them again after living separately for six thousand years. That is why they naturally welcome me with joy, although we do not share the same language, habits and customs. (276-90, 1996.2.4)\

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1065

If my partner loved me and lived for my sake concerning themselves about small matters, then I would want to give back more than that. This would expand continuously. With this type of expansion, after some time had passed – say, if it continued for the rest of one’s life – then this sacrificial way of life would extend beyond the nation to the world, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the eternal spirit world. (119-326, 1982.9.26)

Ritual

2. The Sabbath

And the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, You shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign for ever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
    Exodus 31.12-17The function of lighting the Sabbath candles has been entrusted to the women of the holy people… This tabernacle of peace [the divine Shekhinah] is the Matron of the world, and the souls which are the celestial lamp abide in her. Hence it behooves the matron of the house to kindle the lights, because thereby she is attaching herself to her rightful place and performing her rightful function. A woman should kindle the Sabbath lights with zest and gladness, because it is a great honor for her, and further, she qualifies herself thereby to become the mother of holy offspring who will grow to be shining lights of learning and piety and will spread peace in the world, and she also procures long life for her husband. Hence she should be very careful to observe this ceremony.
    Zohar 1.48b (Judaism)

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

The Sabbath day is the day when we return glory to God. (21:76, October 20, 1968)

The Sabbath is not a day to rest comfortably and sleep all day. Rather, it is a day to become one with God and rejoice to participate in God’s joy. Then you will be able to enter into God’s eternal Sabbath when you go to the Kingdom of Heaven in the spirit world. You will rejoice in God’s eternal love, in the eternal Sabbath of the eternal God. Yet because of the Human Fall, neither God nor humankind could enjoy this Sabbath. (20:330, July 14, 1968)

Once a week Unification church members offer bows and recite the Pledge. That day is a holy day. The breakfast we eat on that holy day is a holy meal. We have to dissolve God’s pain and sorrow caused by the Fall. Because they fell, Adam’s family could not attend God and could not Prayer and Worship 835 share a sacred meal with Him. This became a source of God’s pain and grief. To dissolve this pain, we bow and recite the Pledge and eat the meal with a heart to praise and honor God. (280:289, February 13, 1997)

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