In last week's reflection, I talked about the similarities between the Ninth and Tenth Commandments. Specifically, I mentioned the reality of concupiscence, the parallels between the other Commandments, that merely contemplating evil is also gravely sinful, and that complete personal integrity is one of the “goals” or byproducts of true Christian discipleship. Please read the Ninth Commandment reflections now (if you haven't already) for a more detailed discussion on these topics. We'll wait for you....
...Now that you're back, let's summarize the link between the Ninth and the Tenth Commandments. The Ninth sets the boundaries we're to have with people – we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The Tenth Commandment helps us set boundaries with material goods – material possessions are not just meant for me, but for others.
The desire for things isn't a bad one. In fact, at its most basic level it's required for our survival. For example, when we're hungry we desire food. We desire things that will help us. Obtaining things from others is fine when it's done properly (such as bargaining through fair means). (see CCC #2537)
The issue is not with the desire per se but an inordinate desire for things. Part of the problem is the power people obtain with having lots of wealth and resources. This desire for power over others is one of the main motives behind breaking this Commandment. Extreme greed (also known as avarice) can lead to envy (a sadness over someone else's goods and the immoderate desire to have them, even by evil means). When we wish harm upon another due to envy it is gravely (seriously) evil. The Church talks about how so many sins are rooted in envy – it's a “refusal of charity” and often stems from spiritual pride. As Christians, we need to make this a priority to dismiss these desires if we're tempted by them. (see CCC #2538-2540)
To combat this temptation, we must embrace spiritual humility by acknowledging that God alone is the source of all blessings. Lasting happiness can only be found in God – living simply and prioritizing growing in virtue over material possessions helps us to set our priorities correctly.
We must remind ourselves daily that a relationship with God and growth in virtue takes real effort. We know this is true in every other aspect in life. In our very secular culture, we are constantly bombarded with marketing ploys promising easy ways to achieve our dreams and desires. But there are no shortcuts to real growth. And if it takes real work to obtain useful knowledge, physical health, and healthy relationships with those we care about, why would obtaining spiritual knowledge, health, and a relation with the Almighty be any different?
We cannot find lasting peace and joy in obtaining things because our final destiny does not reside in this world. We were made for God. The things of this world are blessings from God, but they can never substitute for Him. May we never allow ourselves to be distracted by the things of the world to the detriment of God, the source of all our blessings.
These two Commandments, “You shall not covet your neighbor's wife” and “You shall not covet your neighbor's goods,” are obviously related. They both focus on the problem technically known as concupiscence, which (put simply) is our desire for things that are not good for us. We see, smell, or otherwise sense something and we want it, even if it would be immoral. So concupiscence and covetousness are basically the same thing.
The Ninth and Tenth commandments make a distinction between two types of coveting: coveting “carnal” things (i.e., people) and coveting owned items. (see CCC #2514-2515) Note the parallel to the Sixth and Seventh Commandments. God is reminding us that partaking directly in sinful behavior is (obviously) wrong, but merely contemplating evil is also wrong. Adultery is wrong, but “everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) Similarly, allowing jealousy and envy to take up residence in our hearts and minds is wrong in itself.
So these two Commandments are demanding that we strive toward complete personal integrity where the virtue of purity reigns within us. So the link to the Eighth Commandment can now be seen – we must not only be true to others in our words and deeds, but we must be true to ourselves and to our God-given calling. To be a disciple of Jesus is to capture every thought, word, and deed and surrender it to God so that every aspect of ourselves is pleasing to God at all times. That is the goal.
Pretty daunting. But by God's grace it can be done. When it comes to the Ninth Commandment specifically, we need to possess the virtues of chastity, which allows us to love others with an undivided heart and with pure motives. We need to also have a purity of vision whereby we dismiss any thoughts or ideas that would lead us away from this goal. To this end, we need to practice the virtue of modesty which is related to the virtue of temperance or moderation – note the similarities in the two words. We practice modesty when we control what we look at and when we dress appropriately. The way we dress and show off certain things is a type of language. We should be in the habit of reflecting on the way we present ourselves to others to see whether we are inadvertently (or intentionally!) tempting others against the Ninth (and, to a certain extent, the Tenth) Commandment(s).
But a few caveats are in order. The first is not to overreact. We want to be prudent and not prudish. The former is a virtue; the latter is a hyper-sensitivity to social mores that wind up creating more problems that they solve. There's a reason full-body burqa-style clothing never caught on in Christian circles – it isn't necessary if you have the virtue of prudence and modesty! There's a happy medium. Our culture has been pushing immodesty for some time, so just going with what's fashionable will eventually lead you astray. Asking for advice from people who “get” modesty can really help in presenting ourselves in an authentically Christian way.
Which brings up caveat two: temptation, by itself, is not a sin. The sin occurs when we linger in the temptation. Having desires for others is normal. But if a desire is leading us down a sinful path then we need to stop feeding that desire immediately. Looking at women (or men) lustfully is the problem. If we're not in the habit of filtering our feelings through the lens of Christian virtue then this can seem unrealistic or even impossible. But the beauty of virtuous behavior is that it gets easier the more we practice it. That's what virtue does – it enables us to live a holy life almost instinctively. When we take seriously the practice of taking custody over our senses and controlling our imagination, we will find that temptations will get weaker and are less frequent. Then, we will be able always to see people as God sees them, and approach them accordingly.
This is a continuation of last week's topic – the Eighth Commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” In the previous reflection, the focus was on the seriousness of the offense, a listing of the ways people can break this commandment (because this Commandment encompasses more than just lying about a person's character), and an exhortation on standing up for the truth in all things.
That sounds easy, but as we all know, in practice it's anything but. One problem is lying to avoid punishment or conflict. But another problem is revolves around protecting sensitive information from those who do not have a right to that knowledge.
In some sense, the issue of truth-telling hinges on the right of a person to know something. If a person has a right to information, we should give it. Parents have a right to know what their teenagers are hiding in their sock drawers. They do not have a right to the innermost feelings of those same teenagers. If a person has a right to requested information, then we need to tell them. We say it in charity, but we say it.
But if a person is asking for the truth, they need to be able to accept it. So many conflicts come down to people not owning up to this basic principle of communication. It's the “Does this dress make me look fat?” dilemma (and please feel free to create your own example). Because what if it does? What's a hubby to do? It comes down to the real reason behind the question. People say things for all sorts of reasons: to exchange information, to stroke someone's ego, to set them up for a future confrontation, etc. Truth should be said in charity, always. But if someone is lying to us repeatedly – maybe that's because of their weakness, or maybe it's because they're sick and tired of dealing with the emotional backlash and/or passive-aggressive games we play with them. Lying is wrong, but if our actions are the reason behind them, then we are just as much to blame (if not more) for the lying.
Don't ask any question unless you're ready for the answer. When in doubt, shut the mouth.
Let me make a quick aside regarding jokes. Deceiving a person for the sake of a joke can be fine if the joke is harmless in the end and we're not sinning in the process. Otherwise it's, well, no joking matter. Moving on....
Back to the right-to-know dilemma. What if a person doesn't have a right to know the information they're asking for? Then things get a bit complicated. To use a common example: what if you're hiding Jews in your basement and the Nazis come to the door asking whether you're hiding any Jews. What do you say? Let me quote the Catechism: “The right to the communication of the truth is not unconditional. Everyone must conform his life to the Gospel precept of fraternal love. This requires us in concrete situations to judge whether or not it is appropriate to reveal the truth to someone who asks for it. Charity and respect for the truth should dictate the response to every request for information or communication. The good and safety of others, respect for privacy, and the common good are sufficient reasons for being silent about what ought not be known or for making use of a discreet language. The duty to avoid scandal often commands strict discretion. No one is bound to reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to know it.” (CCC #2488-2489)
So for our Nazi example, we're not obliged to aid them in any way. But this also points out the importance of remaining principled in withholding information. To continue with our example: if we're not hiding them and tell the Nazis the truth but later we are hiding them and the Nazis come back, what then? If we're principled enough to state “it's not your business” to people who pry, we can prevent the inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information from manipulators.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” If you were to ask me which Commandment is violated more than any other, I would say this one. You could make a strong case for the Sixth with all the sexual sins being normalized today, but by my reasoning the Eighth takes the cake in terms of sheer volume. And it's not a trivial commandment – not that any of them are, mind you. But I'm a bit surprised that the Eighth is not higher up in the pecking order. I say that because of the true horror of breaking this Commandment.
Why is that? Because people are hard wired for the truth. You see it in children. You see it in adults. You even see it in hardened criminals. Everyone, at some level, wants shared information to be truthful. No deception, no lies, just an explanation of reality. Have you ever seen a child try to process, for the first time, the realization that someone lied to them? It may have never crossed their minds yet that people could deceive each other. And that act of breaking trust now opens the door for that child (that victim, truly) to contemplate acting that way themselves in the future. Perhaps calling it a form of spiritual rape is too strong, but clearly something innocent has been taken from them, something that cannot be given back – the sense of wholeness and community among one's fellow human beings.
The gravity of this action cannot be overstated. It was Jesus Himself who said “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of things that cause sin!” (Matthew 18:6-7) Bearing false witness – lying – causes other sins. It's an evil door that leads to all the other sins. Families, corporations, governments – all human institutions – suffer greatly from the mistrust that is earned through deceptive words and deeds. The first original sin in the garden of Eden was caused by a lie. Cain lied to Abel before he killed him. The arguments for the crucifixion of Jesus were founded on premeditated lies. Every sin is founded on lies.
Show me someone who's angry, bitter, or in a rage and I'll show you someone who's experienced the destructive power of this Commandment.
The Catechism lists several ways people break this Commandment. Bearing false witness (lying in court), perjury (lying under oath), rash judgment (assuming the worst in someone without knowing the full story), detraction (disclosing someone's faults without a good reason), calumny (lies that ruin the reputation of another), and (of course) ordinary lying. (see CCC #2476-2477, 2482) In our society today, these actions are so commonplace they're almost expected. Politicians, journalists, and those involved in marketing too often make careers with deceptive statements. Teachers and scientists, who should be motivated by the truth, are often pressured into stating as fact things that are not. The leaders of the Catholic Church have been caught in a major coverup that we're all too aware of. Other religions are no different. We could go on....
Don't be part of the problem. Stand up for the truth. This takes courage and, practically speaking, a bit of planning. I say that because people can (and have) lost their job or had their career sidetracked for saying things the Establishment didn't want to hear. Living as independently as possible makes one less vulnerable to manipulation by outside forces and is worth the extra planning.
There's a lot more that needs to be said regarding the practicalities of this Commandment. I'll try to cover some of them next week.
“You shall not steal.” This is the Seventh Commandment. Seems simple, right? It is. People have a right to own things. This right is founded in God's original plan for us, to “fill the earth and subdue it” as Genesis 1:28 commands. All of us are called to make this world a better place with our God-given resources. But because of our fallen nature, our egos tempt us to be selfish. Stealing is one of the ways this selfishness manifests itself. In a perfect world, we wouldn't need to own things. Everyone would recognize that God is the one who “owns” everything and we would treat everything with the respect they deserve and use them properly. But we're not in that perfect world, so we have to own things. We take care of what is ours while everyone else takes stewardship of their property and things. Taking things without permission violates the individual trust God places in us and is therefore unjust.
Stealing becomes somewhat more confusing with technological advancements that enable the reproduction or copying of things. It's one thing to break into someone's home and steal a DVD. But if I copy it electronically, we both have copies now. Where's the harm in that? But that line of reasoning ignores the effort made by the original creators. People have a right to be compensated for their work.
That's why copyright laws exist – to set legal boundaries that prohibit others from stealing their work. So just as it would be wrong to steal a book or CD from a store, it's just as wrong to copy them (electronically or otherwise) without explicit permission from the authors.
Back to the concept of ownership for a second. It is not an absolute right. I can't just own anything I want for whatever reason. Proper stewardship places the mission of the greater good of people over individual freedom. So legitimate governmental power can limit and regulate ownership rights. (see CCC #2406) But regulation should not be confused with stealing. If the greater good requires confiscation, then, as a matter of justice, the State must compensate the previous owners.
There are quite a number of people today who are pushing the idea of the State regulating the ownership of goods and services to such a degree that it would basically override people's individual rights to own things. But whatever name you call these ideas (communism, socialism, collectivism) they all fail to recognize the individual mandate God gave us to make the world a better place. No government has the right (or ability, mind you) to enforce everyone to turn over their goods and services for the sake of the common good.
The idea that governments can create a better world by the confiscation and redistribution of goods is not a new one. But there has never been a government that has succeeded in doing this. And it never will, because the State would have to be free from the effects of sin that inflate the ego. It's one thing for people to voluntarily turn over their goods to a human power to further their goals. Nothing wrong with that, assuming that the goals are worth pursuing. But assuming that the State has a better understanding of the greater good for all based solely on the reasoning that it has the power to dictate laws is circular reasoning (...the State knows best because it can make laws...we need to obey the laws because the State said so...). Governments are made up of people who can be selfish just like the rest of us. Heavy-handed State-mandated laws that micromanage people violate human dignity and are unjust.
The Catholic Church has never said anything positive about Socialism. It is based on stealing from others and, when people resist, killing and enslaving them. You can make a very strong argument that Socialism works by violating all ten of the Commandments. Unbridled Capitalism has problems as well, but with proper restraints it can be just. Forced redistribution of goods and services by the State is stealing, plain and simple.
The Sixth Commandment, “You shall not commit adultery,” deals primarily with the fidelity of marital relations, but it also reminds us of the intrinsic dignity of people and the respect we are to have for them. As a result, “the tradition of the Church has understood the sixth commandment as encompassing the whole of human sexuality.”
(CCC #2236) So please understand that this is a huge topic and cannot be covered in a simple article such as this one.
We live in an age where many people are honestly confused about the true nature of love. There are different types of love (which could be a separate article in its own right), but the highest love is altruistic (or selfless) in nature. We see other people as having a dignity that is part of who they are; therefore, to love someone is to recognize this dignity in all facets of who they are. We are not free to manipulate a person for selfish reasons. Selfless love, then, is sacrificial in nature, and demands self-mastery over our emotional feelings and innermost thoughts. We must restrain ourselves and focus on what is best for the person before us.
Human sexuality, properly understood, encompasses not just biological issues but the whole nature of the person. Human beings have both bodies and souls. We are called to unify all the powers of our bodies and souls so that all our thoughts and emotions are guided toward selfless love. So the Sixth Commandment reinforces self-restraint in all aspects of our lives, especially in sexual matters. We are called to be chaste (with everyone and ourselves) until we are married. This calling to self-control is a type of “apprenticeship” where we ingrain within ourselves a deep respect for the “moral and spiritual dimensions” of everyone. People are never meant to be seen as instruments for our personal pleasure, and sexual urges are not to be acted on as a means of self-gratification alone. (see CCC #2332, 2338-2345) Acting on sexual urges outside of the marital covenant (with our without consent, with or without others involved) is wrong.
(see CCC #2352-2356) Even thinking lustful thoughts of another is condemned by Christ. (see Matthew 5:27-28) So this Commandment is a calling to total self-mastery as well as faithfulness to our promises to others.
Let me clarify what lust is and is not. It is not mere desire. Sexual attraction, by itself, is an emotion like any other and is morally neutral. It becomes lust when we start to center our thoughts on the pleasure aspect in our minds outside of its proper context of marriage. Lust is “a disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment of sexual pleasure. Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its procreative and unitive purposes.” (see CCC #2351) So the key is taking control over our imaginations. Falling in love with someone? Not a problem. Sexual fantasies? Most likely a problem. So yes, you can look lustfully at your spouse. There's a fine line here. Reflecting on the deeper motivations behind our imaginations is crucial. Everything we think, say, and do must be compatible with the vocation we're living out. No one should be a sexual plaything in our imaginations. Marriage doesn't change that. But not all sexual desires and thoughts are necessarily lustful. Prayerful reflection on this Commandment, and the other teachings of Christ, will help us both to understand the true nature of this Commandment and the larger calling for us to love others as Christ loved us – completely and selflessly.
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The Fifth Commandment, “You shall not kill,” is probably the best known of the Commandments, but it involves more than the intentional demise of people. But, first and foremost, it does warn us against just that. People are made in the image of God. To take a life unjustly is to violate this intrinsic dignity, it breaks the “Golden Rule” (i.e., “do unto others as you would have them do to you”), and is an affront to God's role as the Lord of Life. “No one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” (see CCC #2258, 2261)
This accounts for life at all stages. Abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and in-vitro fertilization are examples of actions that (either directly or indirectly) involve the taking of innocent human life in its earliest phases. So-called “mercy killings” or “death with dignity” killings of the elderly are also morally wrong. Suicide is also an affront to this Commandment. The Church has come a long way in understanding this last one. We now understand that people who take their lives are usually trying to avoid some pain which they found unbearable. But while the Church still holds out hope for their salvation, in no way can suicide (or killing anyone to avoid pain) to be considered a morally good solution to the problem of suffering. (see CCC #2280-2283)
The heart of this Commandment is on the intrinsic dignity of the human person. So anything that violates this dignity falls under this commandment. Ever been the victim of malicious gossip? Yep, your attackers broke the 5th. Kidnappers, hostage-takers, terrorists, and even actions like abusing drugs, excessive speeding, or harboring resentment or hatred toward another are sanctioned under this Commandment.
A word, though, on drug use and the like. Health is a gift and anything that affects it for the worse should be avoided. But being healthy is not an absolute good. This is where the virtue of temperance (avoiding things to excess) comes in. Believe it or not, smoking (when done in moderation) is not a sin! Having an occasional cigar or drink is fine. Why? Well, if it were, eating or drinking anything other than the extra-lean-tofuaburger with the parsley and orange-slice garnish downed with the soy almond (with extra liquid minerals and flaxseed!) protein shake would be sinful too. Don't turn the good of healthy living into a religious cult. If something becomes addictive to the detriment of your health, yes it's wrong. But having a super-sized Big Mac occasionally isn't bad either. (see CCC #2289-2291)
I would be remiss if I didn't clarify that this Commandment focuses on the harming of innocent human life. Unfortunately, sometimes people are put in situations where taking someone's life was not the goal but the unfortunate and unavoidable byproduct of a situation beyond their control. Sometimes pregnant women have medical issues where the only medical solutions available will not allow their unborn child(ren) to live through the procedure. As long as these procedures are the only options available and they do not intentionally aim at killing the unborn, they are permitted and, properly understood, they are not abortions. Another example: people have a right to self defense. Sometimes that involves lethal force. There can be situations where the death of a person is justified. Everyone should work toward peaceful resolutions to conflicts. But there are times where self-defense is not only permitted but “a grave duty” when it involves protecting the innocent or the common good of society. (see CCC #2321)
“Honor your father and your mother.” So says the Fourth Commandment. If you read the comments on my first installment of this series, you may remember that there's a subtle delineation in the Commandments: the first three focus on our behavior toward God, and the remainder focus on our behavior toward others. So while this may be the fourth Commandment, it is also the first about us.
And the first thing God would have us cherish is our families. It is hard to overestimate the importance of families. In a very real sense, they are a visible representation of God on earth. Well, at least they're supposed to be. That notion comes from Genesis 1 where God talks about how we're made in His image and likeness. Families have a God-given calling to love and cherish each other. They give their children the great gift of life itself and they are the first to introduce the Christian faith to them. Children owe them their gratitude for these gifts. (see CCC #2197)
This Commandment spells out the lines of authority that parents have with their children. If we were to ask the question of why should children listen to their parents, how would we respond? Is it because the kids are weaker, smaller, don't have the know-how and skills to run a household, and (in a phrase) dependent on their parents? While it is true that children are dependents, the foundation for a parent's authority is founded on God's love for us. They're God's children first, and they are entrusted to their human parents who have God's permission to raise them. To honor one's parents is to honor the Creator who is reflected in the holiness their parents instill in them.
In a similar way, this Commandment also involves all those who have responsibility to raise and teach others: “...instructors, teachers, leaders, magistrates, those who govern, all who exercise authority over others or over a community of persons.” (CCC #2199)
Raising one's child in the faith goes hand-in-hand with this Commandment. Education in general is paramount: “The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.” (CCC #2221) It is a grave moral duty for Christian households to raise their children in the faith. They do this, first and foremost, by creating a family environment that teaches through example the principles of kindness, generosity, forgiveness, and self-mastery that are not only foundational to the faith but essential for a person to be truly free. (CCC #2223)
Allow me to put in a word to those who think that it's ok to disregard the faith when it comes to their children. This usually manifests itself as refusing to take their kids to church. May I simply remind everyone that all the Commandments are linked. The third and fourth have a special affinity for each other in that denigrating one leads to the erosion of the other. To put it bluntly: if you teach your kids that the third Commandment is optional, it won't take them long to figure out that the fourth Commandment is optional too. If we, God's children, act out against our Father in heaven, don't be surprised if our little ones act out too. Just sayin'.
A quick word on respect. This Commandment does not imply a blind loyalty to a parent's decisions. Sometimes parents make bad decisions that their children can (and should) disagree with. But we can still be grateful for the gift of life (and other gifts) we received from them.
We all know what the Ten Commandments are, but not everyone knows them by heart. So, to that end, I thought I'd give some basic info for the next few weeks (months?) as an aid in learning them.
And why is this important? Well, because Jesus said as much. In the Gospel of Matthew (specifically, Matthew 19:16-19), a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to attain eternal life. His answer? “Keep the commandments.” If we don't know them, we can't follow them, and we can't teach them to others.
As I mentioned last week, there are two places in the Bible where you can find the Commandments: Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. Do yourself a favor and read them in your Bible (you have a Bible, right? Right???). You'll see that there are actually more than ten “Thou Shall Not's” in there, so you can understand how people came up with different numbering systems over the years. And yes, if we had access to the original stone Tablets we could put that controversy to rest, but the original Tablets were placed in the Ark of the Covenant (see Exodus 25:16) and the Ark has been lost...no one can remember which governmental warehouse it was archived in when Indiana Jones brought it here to America....
Here's a typical Catholic rendition of the Ten Commandments: