Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on Palm Sunday.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are fourteen (14) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not steal.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2451.
Today we consider four aspects of the Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal.’
The Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ has to do with justice as we are reminded in Sacred Scripture: God hates injustice and want no injustice to be done (cf. Deuteronomy 25: 16; Leviticus 19:35; Jeremiah 22:13; Proverbs 13:23; 16:8; 22:8;Job 6:29; Isaiah 58:6). The Hebrew word cedhakah and the Greek word dikaiosune are often translated as “just” or “justice” as well as “righteousness.” Human justice is that between one another, private individuals, sometimes called “particular justice.” Divine justice involves God, of course, in whose image we and our neighbors are made. How can we fail to recognize God’s justice on Jesus’ lips when He says the Son of Man ‘shall render unto every man according to his deeds’ (cf. Matthew 16:27; Luke 12:45–48; Romans 2:2–16; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:25; Hebrews 10:26–31). Sixty-seven articles of the Summa Theologiae of Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) address the virtue of justice and the vices opposed to it (II-II Q. 57–122). Three sorts of justice which Saint Thomas highlights are commutative, distributive and restitutive (II-II Q. 61–62). Distributive justice highlights the three basic duties of the state, namely, to distribute the common burdens and privileges equitably, to make it possible for each citizen to exercise natural and acquired rights without undue hindrance, to foster mutual relations among citizens fostering peaceful coexistence. Restitution means returning what was stolen, as reparations make amends for damages incurred.
The Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ also has to do with Charity. When we tithe, give our 10% it is actually an act of justice, giving each their due, and God has His due. In giving 10% of our income ( more than 10% is actually generosity!) to Mother Church, we enable countless works of mercy, to occur: to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, to instruct the ignorant, to bury the dead, to pray for the living and the dead.
That the Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ has to do with the management of earthly goods should be clear from reading Sacred Scripture: we are to use true measures and weights (cf. Deuteronomy 25:13–16; Leviticus 19:35–36; 27:1–29; Proverbs 16:11). Trying to change price tags on things we would purchase is a form of sinful swindling.
The Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ is obviously related to the fruits of our human labors. When we work an honest hour and receive an honest hours wage we are not stealing those wages from our employer nor is the employer stealing our labor. It is from our honest wages that we are able to engage in the free market further exchanging our capital for the things we need (food, clothing, shelter…).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr