445. What does God prohibit by his command, “You shall not have other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2)? (part 4 continuation)

445. What does God prohibit by his command, “You shall not have other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2)? (part 4 continuation)     

(Comp 445 repetition) This commandment forbids: * Polytheism and idolatry, which divinizes creatures, power, money, or even demons. * Superstition which is a departure from the worship due to the true God and which also expresses itself in various forms of divination, magic, sorcery and spiritism. * Irreligion which is evidenced: in tempting God by word or deed; in sacrilege, which profanes sacred persons or sacred things, above all the Eucharist; and in simony, which involves the buying or selling of spiritual things. * Atheism which rejects the existence of God, founded often on a false conception of human autonomy. * Agnosticism which affirms that nothing can be known about God, and involves indifferentism and practical atheism.

“In brief”

(CCC 2139) Tempting God in words or deeds, sacrilege, and simony are sins of irreligion forbidden by the first commandment.  

To deepen and explain

(CCC 2118) God's first commandment condemns the main sins of irreligion: tempting God, in words or deeds, sacrilege, and simony. (CCC 2119) Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act (Cf. Lk 4:9). Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test" (Deut 6:16). The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power (Cf. 1 Cor 10:9; Ex 17:2-7; Ps 95:9). (CCC 2120) Sacrilege consists in profaning or treating unworthily the sacraments and other liturgical actions, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God. Sacrilege is a grave sin especially when committed against the Eucharist, for in this sacrament the true Body of Christ is made substantially present for us (Cf. CIC, cann. 1367; 1376). 

Reflection

(CCC 2121) Simony is defined as the buying or selling of spiritual things (Cf. Acts 8:9-24). To Simon the magician, who wanted to buy the spiritual power he saw at work in the apostles, St. Peter responded: "Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!" (Acts 8:20). Peter thus held to the words of Jesus: "You received without pay, give without pay" (Mt 10:8; cf. already Isa 55:1). It is impossible to appropriate to oneself spiritual goods and behave toward them as their owner or master, for they have their source in God. One can receive them only from him, without payment. (CCC 2122) The minister should ask nothing for the administration of the sacraments beyond the offerings defined by the competent authority, always being careful that the needy are not deprived of the help of the sacraments because of their poverty"(CIC, can. 848). The competent authority determines these "offerings" in accordance with the principle that the Christian people ought to contribute to the support of the Church's ministers. "The laborer deserves his food" (Mt 10:10; cf. Lk 10:7; 2 Cor 9:5-18; 1 Tim 5:17-18). [IT CONTINUES]     

(The question: What does God prohibit by his command, “You shall not have other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2)? continues)