LOVING GOD, THE SOURCE OF LIFE

THE FIRST THREE COMMANDMENTS

The First Three Commandment

Focus on our relationship with God

Emphasize the most important

obligation

Serve as the foundation for loving

others

The First Commandment

States our first moral obligation – to give our worship to God alone and love Him above all else.

Most important of all, others are derived from it – it is because “to know God, and gratefully accept His Lordship, is the foundation of all Christian moral life” (CFC 880)

How do we obey?

Fulfill our duty of worship

- recognition of God’s Lordship

expressed in filial devotion and service

- it also entails serving Him in faith and

hope

- involve sincere acts of adoration, prayer,

sacrifice.

The Second Commandment

Impels us to show reverence for God’s name

God’s name is holy and it represents God Himself

How do we show respect?

Everytime we repeat the prophet Isaiah’s text in the Eucharistic acclamation:

“Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory…”

Everytime we reverently make Sign of the Cross.

Everytime we pray the Lord’s Prayer.

Finally, we obey this commandment when:

we reject blasphemy (speaking of God with contempt)

we refrain from cursing (calling down punishment on others)

we keep ourselves from taking false oaths (using God’s name to confirm a false statement)

The Third Commandment

Stresses the importance of keeping holy the day for the worship of God and recreation

Sabbath, is founded on God’s creative action in Genesis

Symbol of final celebration and test which is the conclusion of God’s work

How do we fulfill?

Active participation in the EucharistWe have to abstain from those work and

business concerns that prevent us from focusing on God and our worship of Him

When we set aside Sunday to rest and renew bodily strength, enjoy a decent measure of recreation, and to promote family unity

Précis

The First Commandment states that God alone is our Lord and we should not have other gods besides Him.

The Second Commandment states that we should not use the name of God in vain.

The Third Commandment states that we should keep holy the Lord’s day.

Précis

Worship is due to God alone

Participating in the Eucharist and focusing

on God in all our Sunday activities are

ways of obeying the Third Commandment.

God’s name is Himself, therefore we

should respect and revere it.

Précis

The doctrinal ground for these first three Commandments has already been brought out in detail: only God, as Creator Lord of all, is to be worshipped and adored.

Thus, the worship dimension is intrinsic to all three Commandments, not just the Third.

Précis

Our duty as human persons and as Christians is to worship our heavenly Father, the Lord our God, as members of His people, the Church, through sharing in the Eucharistic sacrifice of His own divine Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in the power of their Holy Spirit, dwelling in and amongst us. (CFC 923)