Ep49 Getting Sunday Right w/ Dr. Michael Naughton

"Through Sunday rest, daily concerns and tasks can find their proper perspective: the material things about which we worry give way to spiritual values..."
~ St. John Paul II

Sunday, the Lord's day, has a very particular purpose and call. But our world has diminished Sunday to look like any other day. How can Christians reclaim this part of their inheritance with reverence and rest on Sunday?

Dr. Michael Naughton joins this episode of This Whole Life to explore the significance of reclaiming Sunday as a day of rest, celebration, and fulfillment of the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy. Dr. Naughton emphasizes the deep human need for rest and receptivity on the Lord's day, reflecting on the consequences of neglecting the Lord's day in his own family and work experiences. The conversation delves into the complexities involved in reframing and reclaiming Sundays. In a fallen world this is a messy project, but it's one that holds deep value for our wellbeing and for the health of our families. Join us as we explore the transformative power of honoring the Lord's day and unlocking the gifts that God desires to give us every Sunday.

Dr. Michael Naughton is the director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN where he holds the Koch Chair in Catholic Studies and is a full professor in the department of Catholic Studies. He also taught in the College of Business for over 20 years. Author, co-author and co-editor of 12 books and monographs and over 60 articles, his most recent book is What We Hold in Trust: Rediscovering the Purpose of Catholic Higher Education (2021). He serves on multiple boards including as board chair for Reell Precision Manufacturing, which has plants and offices in the US, Europe and Asia and the board of trustees at the University of Mary and Catholic Eldercare.

Episode 49 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
8:08: Why Sunday matters
21:05: What happens if we get Sunday wrong? What happens when we get it right?
33:28: Making the worthwhile sacrifices to reclaim Sunday
42:57: A well-ordered life starts on Sunday
55:48: Challenge By Choice

Questions for Reflection & Discussion:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. How do your Sundays look right now?
3. What are the ways that you currently honor the Lord's day? How are you feeling convicted to be more faithful to the Lord's day?
4. What would being a "technosabbatarian" look like for you? How can Sunday be a day of distance from screens and social media?
5. What sacrifices would you need to make in order to reclaim Sundays? How do you envision the graces from those sacrifices spilling over into your week?
6. What is one way that you can better keep holy the Sabbath this coming Sunday?

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Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.