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- LIVING THE
COMMANDMENTS
- By Fr.
Siegfried Binzler, SJ
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“I am
Yahweh, your God... Do not have other gods before me… You shall
not bow down to them or serve them… For I, Yahweh your God, am a
jealous God.” (Exodus 20:1-5)
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When I was
still in primary school, we had to go to confession every month.
In our handbook of prayers, there was also a list of possible
sins. It made it easier to examine and formulate our sins. The
first commandment was never among our problems. We never adored
strange gods. In the list of possible sins -
 in the
examination of conscience - there were always the questions: What
have I done wrong with God? Have I always sought and done His
will? Or did I follow my own will? Was God always the source and
basis of my life? Did I always remember Him, surrendering to His
will? How was my behavior towards superstition? Am I ready to
repent and renew my behavior?
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Maybe to
most of us, it is also not a problem! Maybe, the first
commandment is too general. Or even too abstract. But in fact,
the first commandment is the only one where we can commit a mortal
sin. In this first commandment, the relationship with God is the
focus of our attention. The first commandment does not demand
anything. According to grammar, it is formed in the future tense
in Hebrew and it tells the Israelites that they shall from now on
only believe in Yahweh, the God who freed them from the slavery in
Egypt. In fact, all the other commandments use the future tense.
Once the chosen people had learned to trust Yahweh, they will
never kill, never commit adultery, never steal, and never bear
false witness. The Ten Commandments were given to people who
still believed that there were many other gods. It remained
always a temptation to adore them all. Why were the Israelites
tempted not to only adore the one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob? Because they felt that they depended also on the other
gods. They were convinced that the other gods had influence on
their lives.
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Of course,
the Jews were not the only people. All peoples believed that
their fate and their lives depended on the whims of the gods. A
Greek national who visited Rome never had doubts to go to the
Roman temples, just as the Jews had no difficulties to adore the
gods of Babylon. We would be arrogant if we felt more advanced
and developed than the men of the ancient world. According to
their belief, they only wanted to express that they depend on many
factors. Not only the power of nature, the sun and the rain. They
were powerless to control the hurricanes, earthquakes, and
floods. They depended on many strange coincidences and accidents.
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Is it not
true also in our time? Why was our neighbor successful though he
did not work very hard and why did others failed to advance? Why
do some have good luck and others experience only frustration?
Why do some countries advance miraculously and others cannot
overcome hunger and disease? And poverty? Is it not
understandable that there are many heavenly powers? Gods? Of
course, we Christians do not believe in these powers. But we have
to admit that we depend on many things we cannot change: our
bodily and mental sicknesses. We would like to make friends with
other people. But something obstructs us. Continuously, we worry
about our future; worry about the competitors in school and in our
companies. We really depend on many factors, such as on
tradition. So no wonder that people try to find out from the
horoscope about the future fate.
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The
Israelites listened also to the priests of Canaan. By doing so,
they followed an understanding contrary to Yahweh. Is it not
true, that this kind of behavior is still practiced in our
enlightened century?
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- The
first commandment remains therefore the main commandment. Because
God says: I want to free you from all kinds of burdens, anxieties
and fetters. At the same instant, it is the most challenging. It
really touches our innermost heart. Do we really prefer to lead
shallow lives until the end?
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TELL US
LIKE IT IS!
- Has
something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did
God answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like
Isaiah, meet God’s whisper?
- Have
you felt His powerful hand working in your life recently?
-
Everyday, people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their
lives and it is a pity that very few know about it. Do you have
a story to tell? Some Good News to share?
- E-mail
us (genesis@catholic.org)
or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You
don’t have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you
write it – just tell us like it is!
- Don’t
forget to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
For comments, suggestions
or ideas:
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis
Catholic Community
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|
IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Community Life
By Tintin Magbitang
Reflection
By Fr. Agustinus Belo,
PR
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
Catholic News Service
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
 |
