Saturday mornings are different. The open park in our village becomes a beehive of activity as a make-shift market rises. We can buy fruits, vegetables, and other foodstuffs without going out of our village.
I have witnessed changes in the way we do our marketing. When we were young, the only place to go was the wet market. I can still recall the sights and sounds of those markets. In the last decade or so, supermarkets started sprouting all over the country, usually as part of a mall or shopping complex. They make marketing more convenient and offer varied choices under one roof, but generally for additional costs.
As the pandemic rolls on, one thing I notice is the proliferation of small markets (or tianges). Avoiding malls and supermarkets, consumers flock to the convenience and safety of nearby markets.
Markets small and large are undoubtedly crucial for keeping our bodies healthy. But while Saturday is typically the market day for our bodies, we should also allocate time to nourish our souls. The Puritan, James Dennison, coined the term “market day of the soul” to denote Sunday when God’s people worship.
In the Old Testament, the people of God called this day the sabbath, while the new covenant people call this the Lord’s Day. The Lord commands His people to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). Reserving one day for our souls’ feeding should be a welcome respite from the daily grind of work. Such a day should be devoted to worshiping the God who created us, and the Lord who saved us. It is a day for feeding on the pure Word of God.
So go ahead and patronize the community markets near you. But don’t forget the health of your spirits. The “market day of the soul” will profit you not only in this world but in the world to come.
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