Lesson Twenty Two - Commandments

COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND CHURCH

Text by Pat Austin, St. Patrick's Cathedral RCIA Instructor

Just to believe in beliefs of God is not enough. Mt. 7:21 -- "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of Heaven but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven shall enter the kingdom of Heaven." Absolutely clear. It is easy to believe in God, the problem is, do you believe God!! That means that we must do what God asks; we must keep His laws.

The law of God is the expression of the divine wisdom in directing man to the fulfillment of his end and purpose. God's law does so by regulating man's own use of himself, as well as his relationships with God and with his fellow man." Reference: Text page 166. What is man's end and purpose? To love God here on Earth and hereafter in Heaven. Here on Earth we will be happiest by loving God. Jesus gave us the formula for this happiness -- "If you love Me, keep my commandments."

God has laws that govern the universe -- physical laws.

God has laws the govern our conduct -- moral laws.

Every person born is born with God's natural moral law within them -- that is the knowing of right from wrong. It is innate. It is natural to man. Also God has given everyone a conscience for distinguishing this natural law. God's laws are for our own good. He is a loving God. He knows what is best for us more than we do. Jesus says, "If you love me keep my commandments."

God has helped us to carry out the natural moral law by having it written down in the Decalogue (ten words) -- the 10 Commandments. Through keeping the commandments we cooperate with God's plan for us. The Commandments are a road map to our final destination.

Mt. 22:35-40 -- Greatest Commandment? "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

• Love God ... pertains to the first three Commands, Church Commands.
• Love neighbor ... pertains to the last 7 Commands, corporal, spiritual works of mercy.
  • Corporal -- Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit those in prison, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, bury the dead.
  • Spiritual -- admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, pray for the living and the dead.

Matter of 10 -- not stated in Scripture as first, second, etc. man has numbered them. There are 10 Divisions, not single commands.

Divisions of the Commandments:

1. Worship, Respect God Himself
2. Respect God's Name
3. Respect God's Way
4. Respect All Lawful Authority
5. Respect and Preserve Physical Life and Health of you and your neighbor
6. Respect and Preserve Purity of Body and Mind of you and your neighbor
7. Respect and Preserve the property of others
8. Always speak the truth
9. Respect and Preserve the property of others
10. Always speak the truth

THE FIRST COMMANDMENT - I AM THE LORD THY GOD. YOU SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FIRST COMMANDMENT:

• Is God first in your life? Daily prayers? Continuing religious education (for example, read a Catholic magazine). Faith - do you accept all of the teachings of the Church? Hope - do you despair - give up on God or God won't forgive me. Are you guilty of presumption? - you don't need God's help or God will take care of your salvation. Charity - indifference to God's love, ingratitude, luke-warm response to God's love.
• Sacrilege -- mistreats sacred persons, places or things.
• Superstition -- giving credit/power to created things or a human being that only belongs to God.
• Forms of divination - horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, seances.

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT - YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SECOND COMMANDMENT:

• Irreverence for God's Name (Profanity)
• Cursing - asking God to send someone to Hell. Calling down evil on someone.
• Blasphemy - speaking insultingly of God or of what is dear to God.
• Swearing - oath - asking God to witness what you are saying is true.

THE THIRD COMMANDMENT - REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE SABBATH

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE THIRD COMMANDMENT:

• Deliberate missing of Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation:
  • December 8 - Immaculate Conception
  • December 25 - Christmas
  • January 1 - Mother of God
  • 40 days after Easter - Ascension Thursday
  • August 15 -- Assumption of Mary into Heaven, body/soul
  • November 1 -- All Saints
• Unnecessary work on Sunday
• Unnecessary shopping on Sunday

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT - HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER -- Lawful authority -- All rightful authority comes from God. Obedience given to them is obedience given to God.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT:

• Duties to children -- physical, spiritual welfare of children
• Duties toward parents and family members -- respect/responsibility for parents, Christ-like relationship for blood brothers, sisters and relatives.
• Duties to State, Country -- serving one's country, voting, etc.
• Remember, however, you must obey God over man. Reference: Acts 5:29)

THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT KILL

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT:

• Respect and preserve the physical life and health of you and your neighbor.
• Murder, abortion, partial-birth abortion, euthanasia, suicide, assisted suicide, misuse of drugs/alcohol, operations causing sterility, immoral experimentation on embryos, aborted baby parts for sale, physical abuse of adults/children, anger, hatred, prejudice, revenge, quarreling, giving a bad example/scandal, kidnapping/hostage, terrorism, disrespect for the bodies of the dead, unjust war.

THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY AND THE NINTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR'S WIFE.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SIXTH/NINTH COMMANDMENTS:

• CHASTITY - everyone is called to lead a chaste life, each according to your particular state in life. Jesus is the model of chastity. #2394
• #2351 CCC definition of lust -- is disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purpose.
• Sins gravely contrary to chastity -- fornication, masturbation, pornography, homosexual practices, prostitution and rape.
• Grave sins against marriage -- adultery, direct sterilization, contraception, in vitro-fertilization, artificial insemination, surrogate uterus, live-ins, incest and polygamy.
• (9^th) Intention/desire of mind or heart for purity. Mt. 5:27 purity of mind and heart requires prayer, chastity and the virtue of modesty.
• Do you avoid near occasions of sin -- type of entertainment you choose, books etc. you choose, companions.

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT STEAL AND THE TENTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR'S GOODS.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS:

• Stealing, cheating, embezzlement, bribes, blackmail, vandalism, arson, shoplifting, littering, pollution, graffiti, injustice in business, not paying your just debts, excessive involvement in gambling/games of chance, slavery in work areas, abuse of animals/nature, spending money for animals/nature and neglecting people/needs, not giving alms to the poor.
• Intention of mind/heart concerning the world's goods and your possession of them. Greed, envy, avarice would lead to an immoderate desire for world goods which would eventually lead to sin.

THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT - THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR, ALWAYS SPEAK THE TRUTH.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT:

• Deliberate lies, gossip, calumny - lying which injures a person's reputation/character/name; detraction - a truth which injures a person's reputation/character/name; rash judgement, revealing secrets; perjury.
• Mental reservation is allowed.
• Restitution is necessary for the seventh, eighth and tenth Commandments.