Gozo Bishop Mario Grech recently called on the faithful t o “leave Sunday work-free”. As a Roman Catholic myself, I try to attend Sunday Mass as often as I can, and I agree with the bishop that we should all try to follow the Biblical injunction to “keep the Sabbath-day holy”, and free of work or labour, and instead focus on resting as well as honouring and glorifying Our Lord.

However, the Sabbath day has its roots in the Hebrew word meaning “seventh day”. This would correspond to the modern Saturday. It would be nice if Christians and Jews could “sing from the same hymn sheet” even if they cannot “meet in the same pew”, to worship Almighty God fromsunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday... thus restoring the true timing of “the Sabbath-day” toSaturdays.

As far as the separate issue of keeping it work-free: that decision must be left up to the individual. In a depressed global economy, with everyone having financial needs, an employer may demand attendance at a job at any given time. We are living in a 24/7 world.

The good bishop exempts those who perform a “job which is necessary to society” but one man’s definition of “necessary” is another man’s definition of ‘discretionary’ (or ‘optional”) to society.

The sentiment is honourable. The Biblical act is pious and reverent. I applaud those who can do it.

I would just hope that more employers and employees – and customers/consumers, alike – would be of a similar mindset so that noble ideas could mesh together. We live in an imperfect world. Still, it is admirable to aim high.