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We are a family of faith-filled disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, living the gospel through worship and service. Pastor Fr. John Barry |
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Spirituality Page Insert Lent 2010 Keeping God’s Commandments
RELATING THE 1 ST COMMANDMENT TO THE 7 TH ONE “You shall not steal.”
The 10 Commandments all relate to one another. The first three are about one’s relationship to God; the last seven are about our holy relationship unto others. You cannot say that you’ll only follow the first commandments, but dismiss the others (that call us into the interpersonal community of God). St. John’s epistle tells us what Christ now affords us, as it points out that “we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness…not practicing the truth. But if we ARE living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us… if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness… we can be sure we KNOW Him if we obey (all) His commandments… If anyone claims, I am living in the light, but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living some in darkness… so do not love the way of the world or the things it offers you—instead, have the love of the Father in you!” 1 John 1,2 NLT
►The seventh commandment first is about respecting others goods. As the Catechism teaches #2401 We are forbidden to unjustly take or keep the goods of one’s neighbor and wronging them in any way. In sum, each person has properties or possessions, and a name, and a task (job) that they do or have—and we must respect their rights to it. I am not allowed to take what is properly yours. This commandment is about respect for persons and their goods #2407. It could be assumed, that, many persons have the sense that stealing things from others is wrong. Yet, perhaps, not everyone does recognize all that encompasses “stealing.” Theft of property is fairly clear as to be a sin (#2408) yet keeping certain things from people can be serious sin or the breaking of promises/contracts (#2409,10). In regard with the 1st Commandment, to the 7th, lots of stealing in today’s society is of another’s right to be respected and to their place in this world. As we foolishly act to diminish God’s place of reign and reverence from our living, and do offense to Him (#1)—so do we steal or take others character or security or personal care away in “theft” (#7)! What still properly belongs to its owner, whether to God or to a person, the thief tries to have it for themselves. Yet it is not theirs to take. That is why we sometimes call the offender of the 1st Commandment “as one who is trying to play God.” In comparison, we might say that the breaker of the 7th Commandment is trying to take away something from another’s life. When we steal other’s goods, or when we try to take anything away what is due to another, it is stealing, and we are as guilty as the red-handed person who is holding the exploding money bag of dye from what was robbed from the bank. Only, we may not yet see the dye that incriminates us before God and others. ► In our nation’s founding, how vital and good it was for the rights of others’ life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness to be the goals of our government (of, for, and by the people)--- indeed, people should not have stolen from them their lives, nor their name or reputation, nor their goodness, nor their rightful opportunity—if they be upright. People should have their freedom and their rights to their just goods and personal possessions. If this is denied to them, our justice system tries to right it. So too with the Church—and if restitution of what has been taken from a person is in order, then they have rightful expectation for a “reparation for injustice.” (CC #2411) The hope for the life of Christian community and the shared common good is the kingdom of God dream. It is the life that is polar opposite that of one of stealing from others or of disrespecting God and His rightful reign of it all. As the Catechism points out (#2412), it is why the repair and attitude of Zacchaeus so pleased Jesus Christ at Jericho, because, although the tax collector had been quite the thief before, in his life, he was willing to do so much in repentance, and in righting all his wrongs, and all he had taken from others and from God. ###
RELATING THE 1 ST COMMANDMENT TO THE 8 TH ONE “Do not bear false witness.” As we heed the First Commandment, which asks us to worship God and not to turn to idols and false gods, we are then asked to apply this living in the Light of Truth to our relationships with people. The 1st commandment asks us to accept God as All-Truth and All-Good. We are to trust that God is all-satisfying; and that we can fully abide in living in His Light and Truth. “In Him is no darkness” says John the Evangelist, and He adds that those who accept God in this way become “children of the Light.” Now, applying that manner of life, of turning from falsehoods and idolatry, we can accept the 8th Commandment of God, and its sharing of truth with others. which says: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” ►The eighth commandment forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others. Thus, to bear another ill by lies and falsehoods, is to turn from our submission and worship of God (The 1st Commandment). John’s epistle asks us to connect the Commandments, as he puts it, “we know that God’s children (living in true worship) do not make a practice of sinning and acting in darkness.” Or as the Catechism says it (#2466)… "Full of grace and truth," (Jesus Christ) came as the "light of the world," He is the Truth. "Whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness." (So how are we to be full of light? By the help of God’s Spirit!) It continues: “To follow Jesus is to live in the Spirit of truth, whom the Father sends in his name…” ►Worship of God, and being led into Truth is our Christian call. Yet, today, some things are done as ‘truthful’ in name, which actually are acts of hurt and meanness in the real purpose of shaming or cutting others down. This isn’t “truth.” God is not out to harm or shame, as the Gospel of the 2nd Sunday of Lent quoted Jesus on this manner, that, God is One Who does not act that way. (Nor would one of His own .) …2468 Truth is uprightness…sincerity… the virtue which consists in showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and in guarding against (deeds of falsehood) The Catechism goes on to tell us: 2475 Christ's disciples have "put on the new man, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." By "putting away falsehood," they are to "put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander." Likewise, 2476 False witness…When it is made publicly, (it is) a statement contrary to the truth (that) takes on a particular gravity. (Such as in court or in legal manner, it is called) false witness. …Acts such as these contribute to condemnation of the innocent, exoneration of the guilty, or the increased (unfair) punishment of the accused. (It) gravely compromises …justice and the fairness… 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids (these) attitude and words (that are) likely to cause unjust injury. (We are talking of) rash judgment when, even tacitly,(assumes something as true, that does not bear) sufficient foundation, (as in) the ‘moral fault’ of a neighbor; (Also, of serious concern is) …calumny (which are) remarks contrary to the truth, (in harm of) the reputation of others and giv(ing) occasion for false judgments concerning them…. 2479 …everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. 2487 Every offense committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven. When it is impossible publicly to make reparation for a wrong, it must be made secretly. If someone who has suffered harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of charity. This duty of reparation also concerns offenses against another's reputation. ►Thus, by these clear teachings on the 8 Commandment, we can see how it applies to the 1st Commandment, that we are to come and worship the Lord by a life that has agreeably abided in God’s light and truth, in regard to our lives with others through the week. Jesus said: If you come to the altar with your gift (of worship) but have harmed your brother and not been sorry, lay the gift down, and go be reconciled to them, first…” Why did Jesus say this? Because the 1st Commandment and the 8th Commandment work together.
Spirituality Insert—Lent 2010 -Keeping God’s Commandments
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