Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 7th 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 2134.
Without citing here the inspired writings of Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 13:13) or using the technical term ‘Theological Virtues’ the Catechism reminds us that part and parcel of keeping the First Commandment involves Faith, Hope and Charity. We are called to believe in God, to hope in Him and to love him above all else. These are stable dispositions, not passing fads, which make us holy.
Faith allows us to keep the First Commandment. Our faith is not simply a generic monotheistic faith in a god, but Trinitarian Faith in the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob who is Father, Son and Spirit (cf. Exodus 3:6, 15; 4:5; Matthew 22:32; 28:19–20; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 3:13; 7:32). By believing in God and all that God has revealed we keep faith and we keep the First Commandment. Of old, God revealed Himself in many and various ways through the Prophets. In the fullness of time, however, He revealed Himself in His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, to give us the graces we need to keep the Law (cf. John 1:17; 14:7; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1–2).
Hope allows us to keep the First Commandment. We hope in the Lord, for His mercies and blessings in this life and in the life to come. Hope is not a superficial political slogan or just a desire for better weather, a boom economy and the like. The supernatural hope which helps us to keep the First Commandment is a longing trust in God’s grace and mercy bringing us to Heaven. Hope is not presumption. Rightly placed hope in the One True God does not disappoint and is a cause of rejoicing (cf. Romans 8:20; 12:12). After all, the one God is a God of hope (cf. Romans 15:13). Benedict XVI reminded us that “we were saved in hope” (Spe Salvi cf. Romans 8:24).
Charity allows us to keep the First Commandment. By charity we love both the one God, our neighbors and ourselves. Sacred Scripture, (and Benedict XVI) reminds us that ‘God is Love’ (Deus Caritas Est, 1 John 4:16). Our neighbors and ourselves are made in the image of the one God and redeemed by the blood of the God-man Christ Jesus. If we fail to love the good God and our neighbors and ourselves as God would have us, then we know Him not and we are pitiable folk (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 John 4:8). Supernatural Charity moves us to love not only the good God we cannot see, but also our neighbors and self. Refusal of Charity makes our claim to be followers of Christ a lie (cf. 1 John 4:20).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr