Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 1st Sunday of Advent.

My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are seven (7) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the Tenth Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2557.
The Catechism concludes the reflections on the Decalogue (ten words, Ten Commandments) as it began, citing Sacred Scripture. We read about the Commandments in Exodus 20:1–17 and Deuteronomy 5:6–21. As these many verses are made up of more than ten words, so too these reflections cover many pages. This is because we are complex creatures even though our Creator is utterly simple, One, as Saint Thomas Aquinas, OP (+1274) reminds us (cf. Summa Theolgiae I Q. 3, A. 1–8). The Tenth Commandment, ‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods’ reminds us what we should really long for and desire, namely God. Saint Augustine (+430) reminds us how our hearts are restless until they rest in the Lord (Confessions, Book I, Chapter 1). If we covet our neighbor’s goods, we desire something which is less than God, we have preferred the creature and created things to the Creator (cf. Romans 1:25; GS, 36). Not all desires are sinful, but to so desire the goods of our neighbors as to covet them is a disorder. Rather our thirst should be for the water of eternal life and the God who gives it even at the Lord Jesus Himself thirsts for us, our love, friendship and obedience (cf. John 4:14; 15:15; 19:28). Whenever we sin we spurn not only God’s grace, but also His holy will for us, namely, our salvation (cf. Isaiah 33:2; Jeremiah 3:23; Psalm 65:5; 68:19; 79:9; 85:4; 95:1; 1 Chronicles 16:35; Romans 13:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Peter 3:15; Revelation 7:10).
The pure in heart will see God (cf. Matthew 5:8). Those who believe will see God (cf. John 11:40). The blessed in Heaven in their risen glorious flesh will see God (cf. Job 19:26). All the redeemed or saved will see God (cf. Luke 3:6). It is only by God’s grace (powerful help) that we will be pleasing to Him, keeping His Commandments. If we do keep His Commandments, by His grace, Heaven awaits us, eternal life (cf. Matthew 5:12; 25:46; Luke 6:23; John 14:15; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Titus 1:2; 1 John 5:11). When we die our souls go immediately to the judgment seat of Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10). Upon the resurrection on the Last Day, when the trumpet sounds, our bodies and souls are reunited with our souls, in Heaven in God’s mercy and in Hell in His justice (cf. John 11:24; 1 Corinthians 15:52). May God’s mercy be upon us and on the whole world (cf. Psalm 33:22; 67:1; 123:2–3; Luke 1:78). May we live holy lives by God’s grace so as to be numbered among the blessed who hear those fateful words “Good and faithful servant, come share your Master’s joy” (cf. Matthew 25:23; Revelation 7:9).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr