Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 6th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are nine (9) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the First Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not have other gods.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2133.
When looking at the Commandments of God, the Decalogue (“Ten Words”) we should remember that the Lord Jesus Christ did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them and that we show our love for Christ Jesus by keeping the Commandments (cf. Matthew 5:17; John 14:15). The ancient heresy of Marcionism, named after the heretical Bishop Marcion (AD 85–160) rejects the writings of the Old Testament and makes an opposition between God in the Old Testament and God in the New Testament. Marcion also rejected certain texts of the New Testament which he deemed incompatible with his strange doctrines (cf. Hebrews 13:9; 1 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 4:3).
The First Commandment is to have no other gods but God. This is a commandment regarding monotheism, belief in one God. As a consequence of the First Commandment we believe in God and all that He has revealed, in Sacred Scripture through the Prophets of old and in the fullness of time in Christ Jesus, the word made flesh (cf. Luke 24:13–32; John 1:14; Romans 1:2; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1–2).
The First Commandment is echoed throughout Sacred Scripture: “Love the Lord your God, with all your hearts, all your soul, and all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).” The Lord Jesus Christ says as much in the Holy Gospel (cf. Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). It is an absolute love to which we are called.
How do we love the Lord with all our hearts? When our love is rightly ordered we love the Lord with all our hearts. If we prefer the creation to the Creator our love is disordered. Part of our love for the Lord our God includes loving what He loves, namely goodness, truth and beauty and hate what He hates, namely evil (cf. Amos 5:15; Psalm 5:5; 97:10; Romans 12:9).
How do we love the Lord with all our soul? Our being in the ‘image of God’ is in no small part thanks to our soul, the spiritual ‘part’ of our being (cf. Genesis 1:27; John 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). The specific ‘powers’ of the soul are the ability to know and the ability to love. When we direct our minds and our hearts toward God we are beginning to love the Lord our God with our soul. If we never think of God or the things of God we are not keeping this aspect of the Lord’s call to holiness.
How do we love the Lord with all our strength? Our strength is not only physical but also spiritual. When we direct our energies, powers, and our abilities toward God, from whom we receive them, then we are beginning to love God with all our strength.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr