EPISODE 102 – THE BIBLE VS. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (Part 42) – “The Lord’s Day – The Upper Room”

Does “the Lord’s Day” truly mean Sunday, as Church tradition teaches? Or does the Bible speak of something deeper—judgment, salvation, and the work of the Holy Ghost? Let us examine this together, based on Holy Scripture. In the teaching of the Catholic Church, “the Lord’s Day” is Sunday—the holy day associated with the resurrection of Jesus. Yet the Bible does not use the names of the days of the week in their modern sense, but rather refers to “the first day of the week” and “the seventh day”—the Sabbath. It is therefore worth comparing Church tradition with the biblical message to see whether these meanings are truly the same. 1. “The Lord’s Day” in the Bible versus Church Tradition The Church identifies “the Lord’s Day” with Sunday. Meanwhile, in the Bible, the term appears in John’s vision: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Revelation 1:10). However, there is no direct indication of a specific day of the week. Moreover, in many passages, “the day of the Lord” signifies a time of divine judgment and God’s intervention, often in a dramatic context (for example: Isaiah 13:6,9; Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18–20; Second Peter 3:10). This suggests that it is a spiritual and prophetic concept, not merely a calendar date. 2. The Resurrection and “the First Day of the Week” “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” (John 20:1) Jesus rose “the first day of the week.” The Church sees in this the basis for observing Sunday. Yet the biblical text speaks literally of “the first day after the Sabbath,” without abolishing the seventh-day Sabbath. Therefore, calling Sunday “the Lord’s Day” appears more a matter of tradition than a direct biblical command. 3. The Upper Room and the Revelation of Jesus – Spiritual Symbolism Jesus appearing to the apostles—first without Thomas (John 20:19), and then with him “after eight days” (John 20:26)—may be understood symbolically. The Bible shows that unbelief affected all the disciples (Mark 16:11,14), not only Thomas. What is key is that Jesus comes to His disciples and gives them the Spirit: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22). This indicates that salvation is God’s initiative, not the result of human decision. 4. The Eucharist – Sacrament or Spiritual Symbol? The Church teaches the Eucharist as the real presence of Christ. However, Paul warns: “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God” (First Corinthians 10:20–21). He also speaks of unworthy participation: “Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (First Corinthians 11:27). In a spiritual understanding, the “body” and “blood” of Jesus may signify the Word of God and the Holy Ghost—spiritual nourishment for believers. The New Covenant is “the ministration of the spirit” (Second Corinthians 3:6), not merely a ritual. 5. Law, Faith, and the Work of God The Church often emphasizes the obligation of attending Sunday liturgy as a moral norm. Meanwhile, the Bible shows that it is God who cleanses and sanctifies man: “But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified” (First Corinthians 6:11). Jesus also rebukes the teachers of the law: “Ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne” (Luke 11:46). This suggests a tension between a religious system and freedom in the Spirit. Comparing Church teaching with the Bible reveals two perspectives: • Church: “The Lord’s Day” = Sunday, obligation to attend liturgy, sacramental understanding of the Eucharist. Bible (spiritually): “The Lord’s Day” = the time of God’s action (judgment and salvation), emphasis on the Holy Ghost, God’s initiative, and the spiritual meaning of symbols.