Both the apostles creed and the Nicene creed proclaim that Jesus rose again on the third day. This is included because it was "according to the scriptures" i.e. the old testament prophecies, not only that he should rise to new life but that this would happen on the third day.

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In the Jewish way of reckoning the days of the week, Sunday is the first day and the Sabbath (Saturday) is the seventh day, the day of rest. The followers of Jesus very quickly started to keep Sunday as their holy day in distinction from the Sabbath. They did this above all because it was the day of resurrection. 

 

Many of the first Christians were also Jews and so they would have kept the Sabbath which started on Friday evening, and also the the day of resurrection, Sunday, which started on Saturday evening. (Our modern practice of having the first mass of Sunday on Saturday evening is not just for convenience, it is because this when Sunday starts for the church.

 

Sunday is also honoured by the church as the day of creation first happened according to the poetry of Genesis, when God said let there be light.

 

It is honoured by the church because 50 days after Easter Sunday the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost, another Sunday.

 

Finally it is honoured by the church as the day symbolising eternity, for it is the "eighth day" as well as the "first day" of the week. Sunday, the eighth day, and the number 8 symbolise eternity beyond the completion of time. This is why fonts have eight sides to remind us that those baptised are born into eternity

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Sunday was the original feast day of the church, centuries before there were any saints day or Christmas or Easter. One of the effects of the second Vatican council was to restore the importance of Sunday as the main Christian feast.

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On Sunday we gather to celebrate the resurrection, creation, the gifts of grace, and the promise of eternity on the first and the eight day, the Lord's day.

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