Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time.

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 2463.
When considering the Seventh Commandment, ‘You shall not steal,’ Mother Church proposes two passages of Sacred Scripture to help us appreciate the role wealth should have in our lives, namely Luke 16:19–31 and Matthew 25:45. We will look at these separately.
The Lord Jesus told the story of the poor man Lazarus, who was a hungry beggar, during His journey to Jerusalem where He would die to save us from our sins, including greed and the lack of generosity. The story relates the disposition of Lazarus and the man who is know by the Latin word for “rich man”, namely Dives, both before and after death. The comfort of the rich man in this life is contrasted with his misery in the next, while Lazarus’ misery in this life is contrasted with the eternal comfort which he enjoys resting in the bosom of Abraham. Dives knew Lazarus’ name but never helped him in his need.
Also during His journey to Jerusalem the Lord Jesus gave His warning about the coming judgment of the nations, separating the sheep from the goats, based upon our deeds. When we refuse to feed the hungry, we refuse to feed Christ. When we refuse to clothe the naked we refuse to clothe Christ. When we refuse to visit the sick and imprisoned we refuse to visit Christ. When we refuse Christ in these ways we will have as our recompense being sent to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. The corporal and spiritual works of mercy enable us to live our faith and build up the Kingdom of God here and now, even as we await it’s consummation on the last day (cf. Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:28–29; Mark 1:15; 10:29; Luke 11:20; 12:31; 18:29; Colossians 4:11; Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; 15:50).
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ calls us to faith, but a faith with action, with deeds. If we fail to act upon our faith it is a dead, a lifeless faith without any power to save us (cf. James 2:14–16). The imagery of being cast into the fires of Hell with the devil and his minions should encourage us to work out our salvation with a holy fear and trembling (cf. Philippians 2:12). We must not only call out upon the Holy Name of the Lord, but then act accordingly, doing God’s holy will in the here and now, lest we be bared from the bliss of eternal life in Heaven (cf. Matthew 7:21). May our generosity be such that our needy neighbors will not even be tempted to steal what they need in order to live. May greed be far from our hearts. May generosity overflow from our hearts, like the Heart of Christ.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr