Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are six (6) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Ninth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2530.
The Beatitudes, delivered by the Lord Jesus, are related to the Commandments of God, delivered through Moses. How can we not see the relation between the Ninth Commandment ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife’ and “Blessed are the pure of heart” (cf. Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21; Matthew 5:8)? Two helps in keeping the Ninth Commandment given us by Mother Church are the purification of heart and the practice of temperance. How is it that we are able to purify our hearts and so keep God’s commandment? What does the practice of temperance look like?
When we are baptized our hearts are made pure. When we make a good Confession our hearts are made pure. When what we desire is pure, then our hearts are pure. In order to have a pure heart we must have pure desires. Lustful desires are contrary to a pure heart. If the Lord promises us that we will be blessed if our hearts are pure, the opposite is no less true. We will not be blessed if our hearts burn with lust. Sadly, unrepented sin leads to damnation. The good news is that God does not will the death of the sinner but that we be converted and live according to His grace and holy will.
Temperance is one of the Cardinal Virtues which moderates our desire for pleasures. We are able to practice temperance in many aspects of our lives. Most often the quality and quantity of our consumption of food or drink come to mind when considering the virtue of temperance. Rest and labor also should be moderated (all work and no play :: all play and no work…) by the virtue of temperance. The practice of the virtue of temperance as regards human sexuality is a part of the Ninth Commandment. When we live chaste lives the pleasure associated with human sexuality is moderated, open to the transmission of life, between husband and wife. Those who are not married exercise the virtue of temperance as regards human sexuality by abstinence from sexual pleasures. Periodic abstinence from sexual pleasures even within Holy Marriage allows for husband and wife to regulate the number and spacing of children brought into the world.
While the world says there is no such thing as sin, let alone sins of a sexual sort, Mother Church knows better and following the teaching of Christ who wants us to be pure of heart calls us to struggle or fight against our fallen sinful nature with the help of God’s grace. Lust is a sin. Chastity is a virtue. Knowing these truths and living accordingly sets us free from slavery to sin and Satan and helps us on our journey to our heavenly home.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr