Continuation……

The “7”
The number “7” on the

playing card symbolizes that on the seventh day God took rest after creating the world and the climax of the creation was human person. According to the Book of Exodus, the Sabbath is a day of rest on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2–3), commanded by God to be kept as a holy day of rest, as God rested after creation. The practice of observing the Sabbath (Shabbat) originates in the biblical commandment “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”. So, on the Sabbath day the Jews don’t work but spend the day in prayer and worship. We, the Catholics consider the Sunday (day of the Lord) as the day to be spent in prayer and worship. Sunday is the Holy day of Obligation. Let’s also not forget that biblically number 7 is the “Perfect Number” or symbolizes ‘Perfection’.

The “8” Number “8” reminds us that God destroyed all life by water (Genesis 7, 1-24), except eight people, Noah, his wife, their three sons and their three sons’ wives (Genesis 9, 18-19). God destroyed the earth, humankind and animals because of the wickedness of mankind and unrighteousness (Genesis 6, 5). But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord (Genesis 6, 8) for he was righteous and blameless man in his generation (Genesis 6, 9). God’s purpose of sending the flood was to purify the whole world and humankind. In our lives too, God wants us to be righteous and blameless before His eyes.

 

-Fr. Leslie Gomes