442. What is implied in the affirmation of God: “I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 20:2)? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 442 repetition) This means that
the faithful must guard and activate the three theological virtues and must
avoid sins which are opposed to them. Faith believes in God and rejects
everything that is opposed to it, such as, deliberate doubt, unbelief, heresy,
apostasy, and schism. Hope trustingly awaits the blessed vision of God and his
help, while avoiding despair and presumption. Charity loves God above all
things and therefore repudiates indifference, ingratitude, lukewarmness, sloth
or spiritual indolence, and that hatred of God which is born of pride.
“In brief”
(CCC 2133) "You shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your
strength" Deut 6:5). (CCC 2134) The first
commandment summons man to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him
above all else.
To deepen and
explain
(CCC 2086) "The first commandment embraces faith, hope,
and charity. When we say 'God' we confess a constant, unchangeable being,
always the same, faithful and just, without any evil. It follows that we must
necessarily accept his words and have complete faith in him and acknowledge his
authority. He is almighty, merciful, and infinitely beneficent…. Who could not
place all hope in him? Who could not love him when contemplating the treasures
of goodness and love he has poured out on us? Hence the formula God employs in
the Scripture at the beginning and end of his commandments: 'I am the
LORD'" (Roman Catechism 3,
2,4).
Reflection
(CCC 2087) Our moral life has its source in faith in God who
reveals his love to us. St. Paul speaks of the "obedience of faith"
(Rom 1:5; 16:26) as our first obligation. He shows that "ignorance of
God" is the principle and explanation of all moral deviations (cf. Rom
1:18-32). Our duty toward God is to believe in him and to bear witness to him. [IT CONTINUES]
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