It is more than probable, that for most of us who take our faith seriously, when we hear of the TEN COMMANDMENTS, it triggers the idea: Which of them did I break, before going to Confession? Actually, this is a sign of a good conscience and a desire to do the will of God and to be in the will of God.
I would surmise that it never occurred to you when reflecting on the Ten Commandments, the ways in which we can strive to obey or to observe the Commandments. (By the way, they are Commandments and not suggestions!!!)
Therefore, just to wet your spiritual appetite and motivate you to work on refining your conscience more thoroughly, we will list the Ten Commandments and highlight at least one way that we can put into practice each commandment, instead of breaking it.
Just as an aside, referring to the Ten Commandments, a rhetorical question: Who was the first person to break all of the Ten Commandments simultaneously? The Response: Moses, when he broke them on seeing the Israelites worshiping the Golden calf!!!
THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
Let us enter into the adventure and highlight at least one way in which we can implement or put into practice each and every one of the Ten Commandments. This should help in the overall formation of our conscience. It should also serve as a means to upgrade our reception of the Sacrament of Confession, also known as Reconciliation.
First Commandment: I am the Lord your God. You shall not have other gods besides me. One sure-proof way that we can be observing this first and most important of all the Commandments, which is the foundation of all of the Commandments, is the concept of PRAYER. If I am seriously striving to give more time to prayer, reading up on prayer, and seeking spiritual direction to grow in my prayer life, then undoubtedly, I will be growing towards living out the First Commandment. In fact, prayer is a loving relationship of Friendship with the Lord, as expressed by the Doctor of Prayer: Saint Teresa of Avila.
Second Commandment: You shall not take the Lord’s Name in vain. A superb way in which we can avoid this sin is that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10) A practice taught and strongly recommended by the Sisters of old was the following: upon hearing the Name of Jesus, reverently bow your head. What a powerful and beautiful example displayed to others.
Third Commandment: Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Principally, this Commandment refers to our assistance and participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays and on Holy days of Obligation. Let us upgrade our participation by arriving 20 minutes early to pray before Mass, and why not the recitation of the most Holy Rosary. Saint Pope Paul VI stated in his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus (Feb 2, 1974) that we should not pray the Rosary during Holy Mass; however, as a means of preparation for Mass or thanksgiving after Mass, the recitation of the Holy Rosary is superb!
Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother. Let’s turn the tables in the sense that this Commandment also refers to Mothers and Fathers working on being better parents towards their children. Suggestion: Mom and Dad, beg good Saint Joseph to help you to improve in your parenting skills—to improve in bringing your children closer to the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Good Saint Joseph!
Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill. How? Get involved in the PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT. At least once a month, walk in front of an abortion clinic and pray the most Holy Rosary—a beautiful Pro-Life prayer—to both repair for the sins of abortion, as well as to repair for the millions already perpetrated!
Sixth Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. Avoiding the Capital Sin of Lust and practicing the opposing virtue of Faithfulness in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony would be that every spouse would strive every day, on a daily basis, to do something to please or make happy their spouse. Start today—even if it is something as simple as a radiant and glimmering smile!
Seventh Commandment: You shall not steal. Pope Francis on the Day of Communications 2022 mentioned that we should strive to exercise the Apostolate of the ear—meaning: the Apostolate of listening attentively to others, especially those in our own families. Shakespeare put it bluntly: “Lend me your ears!”
Eighth Commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. This commandment refers to communication and the gift of speech. What exactly is the fundamental purpose of our mouth opening up in speech? A concise but substantial definition might be the following: The purpose of speech or communication is to communicate or transmit the truth with love. May the Holy Spirit, who taught the Apostles the art of speech and communication that first Pentecost in tongues of fire, come to our assistance in this most noble enterprise!
Ninth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. We live in a world of images—Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Some images are good; many unfortunately are ugly and degrading. A very helpful means to live out the 9th Commandment is to enthrone the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in our homes, look at them with love every day, and pray as a family in front of them. Indeed, the family is the Domestic Church.
Tenth Commandment: You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. This sin is related to avarice, comparing and wanting more and more, and never really being satisfied with what we have. Perhaps the best we have in literature is the classic of Charles Dickens, made into a movie numerous time—A Christmas Carol. The positive living out of the virtue contrary to avarice is the converted Ebenezer Scrooge. Not the bah-humbug, conniving, grasping, materialistic hoarder. Rather, the Scrooge, who after confronting the reality of death, learns that true happiness resides in giving with an open hand and heart, and not accumulating money. May we be the Scrooge after his encounter with the reality of death! May we seek out the poor, disabled and suffering “Tiny-Tim’s” and lift them high on our shoulders by active giving. Saint Paul expresses it clearly: “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.” (Acts 20:35)
As a summary, let us all make a concerted effort to grow in age, wisdom and grace before God and man by imitating Jesus. Let us frequently examine our conscience daily and strive to avoid at all costs breaking the Ten Commandments. However, let us strive even more to put into practice the Ten Commandments. If done, we will truly experience the freedom of the sons and daughters of God.
