Life In Christ
•The Church
•The Decalogue
•The First Commandment
Deacon Dan Gannon, J.D., M.A.
Tonight …
Life In Christ
 The Decalogue
 The Church
 The First Commandment
Agenda
 Last time …
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Moral law
New Gospel law of love
Grace & Justification
 Tonight
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35-40 minutes small groups until 7:50
Focus on … key themes
8pm – 9pm lecture
“Economy (oikonomia = Plan) of Salvation”
Holy
Trinity
CREED
PRAYER
The Church: Mystical
Body / Christ’s Voice
C
MORAL
LIFE
Old Covenants & Prophets
Foreshadowing Christ…
SACRAMENTAL
LIFE
Paschal Sacrifice
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Always in context of Christ’s New
Law of love
 Not “rules” but “covenant-love”
 God
of OT = bad rap… “taskmaster”
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Spousal love
 Obligations emerge
 Covenant, not control
 Rules protect love!
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Christ’s New Law of love …
 …fulfills, refines, surpasses and leads the Old
law to its perfection; releases their hidden
potential; reform of the heart” (interiorization)
In the Beatitudes, the New Law fulfills the divine
promises by elevating and orienting them toward
the "kingdom of heaven. (CCC 1967)
Cf. CCC 1972
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Christ’s Law of Love is a PRECEPT … a
COMMANDMENT!
I give you a new commandment: love one
another. As I have loved you, so you also
should love one another. (Jn. 13:34)
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Christian morality finds its origin in the
question of happiness (beatitude) set out in
Beatitudes/Sermon on Mount
 … NOT negative moral precepts
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Old Law = human act was moral because of
its relationship to the LAW
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“Legalism” risk
“External / minimalistic”
Duties = fulfillment of law
Decalogue – In Perspective
 St. Thomas: Old law was
incomplete / imperfect…
 … it ordered people to
God, but it did not instill
within them the power to
reach God
“I will put my law within them and I will rite it upon
their hearts…” (Jer. 31:31)
“I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk
in my statutes…” (Ez. 32:26)
Decalogue – In Perspective
 Jesus’ New Law of Love
 … in relation to Old Law
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law
and the prophets; I have come not to abolish
them but to fulfill them …” (Matt 5:17)
“I give you a new commandment: love one
another. As I have loved you, so you also
should love one another …” (Jn. 13:34)
 Can love be commanded?
Decalogue In Perspective
 Jesus is the perfect
Model of the New Law
 In the face of Jewish
justice and Greek
wisdom, Paul
proclaimed a "new"
virtue: faith in Jesus
Christ crucified!
"While the Jews demand miracles
and Greeks here are we preaching
a crucified Christ; to the Jews an
obstacle they cannot get over; to
the pagans madness…"
Decalogue In Perspective
 St. Paul preached not
obligations… but
freedom from the old
law via Christ’s perfect
sacrifice/fulfillment unto
the new law of love.
“you also were put to
death to the law through the body of Christ”
(Rom. 7:4)
“Now we are released from the law, dead to what
held us captive, so that we may serve in the newness
of the spirit and not under the obsolete letter.”
Decalogue In Perspective
 Mosaic Law – St. Thomas
held mosaic law structured
life of Israel in three ways:
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Moral
Ceremonial
Judicial precepts
 Christ’s Paschal Mystery
fulfills Mosaic law on the
Cross
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Priest
Prophet
King
Decalogue In Perspective
 Sermon is second stage of
moral freedom’s progress as
Decalogue was for the first.
 Between old/new law, there is
essential continuity and profound
difference
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imperfect/perfect
seed with tender shoots and
needing protection vs.
the plant that grows tall and
strong.
 Kreeft – Jesus didn’t liberalize
the Old Law; he TIGHTENED IT
Decalogue In Perspective
 New Law: Christian morality and actions have
their origin and teleology in happiness, the
good and beatitude…
Morality is not a series of obligations
imposed by God; the Decalogue DISPOSES
us and PROTECTS AUTHENTIC LOVE
 Jesus didn’t liberalize Old Law, he
tightened it…
Point of Departure:
The Rich Young Man
CCC 2052-2083
The Rich Young Man
 Mark 10
 Set’s whole tone of CCC into
Decalogue
 Keeping commandments in the
minimalistic sense is necessary but
not sufficient for Jesus!
 Perfection
 Grace and sacramental life
REQUIRED!
The Rich Young Man
 Now we are in realm of
Charity – selfless love;
NO LIMITS!
 Holiness & Perfection –
new ‘language’ of
commandments
 The
“New Man” - Paul
The Rich Young Man
 Invitation of LOVE cannot be
COERCED
 Sin is a essentially a
RELATIONSHIP broken, not just
a “rule”
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We “hide” like Adam
 Sin … where we are falling apart
is where WE MEET CHRIST
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Paul “content with weakness,
insults, hardships,
persecutions… for Christ”
The Rich Young Man
 Operatio Sequitur Esse –what
we do flows from who we are
(operations follow from being)
 We must first be holy and
participating in the life of the
Trinity via GRACE for our actions
to conform with the
Commandments in light of the
New Law of Love!
“Participation in the Holy Spirit is a
participation in the divine nature”
– St. Athanasius
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 2030-2051
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 Mother & Teacher
 Not a ‘legalist’ but a ‘lover’ – “voice of our
Mother”…
 Protector of “covenant love”
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 “It is in the Church, in
communion with all the
baptized, that the Christian
fulfills his vocation. From the
Church he receives the
Word of God containing the
teachings of "the law of
Christ." (Gal 6:2)
 From the Church he
receives the grace of the
sacraments that sustains
him on the "way."
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 Bishops authority directly
from the Apostles in union
with the Pope “teach the
faithful the truth to believe,
the charity to practice and
the beatitude to hope for.”
(2034)
 To love Christ is to love
His Church – His Bride
 One God, One Order, One
Church, One Truth …
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 Church is our source of
grace, nourishment and
healing – Eucharist,
Reconciliation
 Scripture + Tradition …
interpreted by Magisterium
 Conscience – not
subjective; must be formed
via Magisterium
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 “The Roman Pontiff and the
bishops are "authentic teachers,
that is, teachers endowed with
the authority of Christ, who
preach the faith to the people
entrusted to them, the faith to be
believed and put into practice."
(2034)
 Purpose of Magisterium is
salvation of souls
 Develop a “filial spirit” toward the
Church, our mother (2040)
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 Precepts of the Church – “very
necessary minimum” (2041) for
growth in love of God and neighbor
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Mass – Sunday & Holy Days
Reconciliation – yearly
Eucharist received – yearly (in
Easter season)
Fasting & Abstinence observed as
required
Contribute to material support of the
Church
The Church, Mother and Teacher
 Must avoid pharisaical approach to the Five
Precepts of the Church! i.e. Minimalist view.
 Liturgical observances lead to rectified and
good life. “Operatio sequitur esse”
 Church is therefore MISSIONARY by nature
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 First tablet: 3 commandments = love of
God
 “You
shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, soul and mind …”
(Deut 6:5)
 Second tablet: 7 commandments =
love of neighbor – “You shall love
neighbor as yourself…” (Lv 19:17; Mk
12:28)
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 Why is Greatest
Commandment NOT one
of the “10”?
 Commandments take
second place to the
covenant. CCC notes the
Decalogue is “never
handed on without first
recalling the Covenant”
(2060)
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 The Greatest Commandment as Jesus
calls it … STANDS ABOVE the 10
Commandments as the COVENANT
precedes God’s giving of the
Decalogue!
Covenant = Greatest Commandment
 The relationship/covenant with God is
the GOOD to which the
Commandments are ordered!
 The One WORD joins God and humanity
in His Person as the two tablets are joined
by Great Commandment
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 Unity of commandments – break one, you
break them all! Why?
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Because they are all bound together by ONE
LOVE!
 2055: On these two commandments hang all
of the Law and prophets
The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single
commandment of love… ratified by Jesus’ command to “love one
another”
 “You” in commandments is a personal
invitation for us to be “perfect”!
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 All Commandments are
discoverable by reason –
NATURAL LAW
 God’s pattern/design in natural
creation, order in nature
necessitates a MORAL order and
pattern as well!
 The
moral order proceeds from
One God, One order, One truth,
One Lord, One Church…
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 Commandments come in “second
place” b/c they express the implications
of belonging to God via COVENANT (Cf.
2062)
 “The Decalogue is never handed
on without first recalling the
covenant” (2060)
 Decalogue = means literally “10
words” (2056) – given after the PG
committed to do all the Lord and said
and “obey”. God would reveal the
greatest commandment in ONE WORD
… made flesh.
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 Exodus – God’s love
demonstrated via
deliverance from
bondage… then asks
for return of love via
obeying
commandments.
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Like spousal
relationship – love
manifested first, then
obligations protect
that love.
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 Similarly, The Church/CCC tells story of Creed –
God’s saving work in Christ first… (Pillar I)
 THEN … Empowers us with grace via
sacramental life (Pillar II) …
 THEN ..
Reveals the norms for a moral
life in imitation of Christ
 Obedience to God’s law is a loving, “wrapt
listening” to the voice of the Beloved
Decalogue – Love of God &
Neighbor
 On these two commandments hang
all the Law and prophets. “The
Decalogue must be interpreted in
light of this twofold yet single
commandment of love.”… ratified
by Jesus’ own “love one another”.
2055
 Unity of Decalogue – transgress
one is to infringe all others 2069
 Grave obligations 2068, 2072
Decalogue – First Commandment
 “I am the Lord your God … who
brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of … bondage”…
 “You shall have no other Gods
before me” (Deut. 5:6-21)
 “You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength”
(Deut 6:5)
Decalogue – First Commandment
Recall that love is in the WILL. To love is
to WILL THE GOOD of ANOTHER,
according to St. Thomas.
… love is also Christ’s COMMAND
… not a feeling!
We LOVE by OBEYING GOD’S WILL
Decalogue – First Commandment
Note that we see the Great
Commandment ratified and fulfilled
by Christ’s NEW Law … RIGHT
THERE in the OLD LAW as well!
 “First things first” – All begins
and ends with GOD ALONE!
 We must put God and loving
him first in the moral life and all
other things fall in place.
“Economy (oikonomia = Plan) of Salvation”
Holy
Trinity
CREED
PRAYER
The Church: Mystical
Body / Christ’s Voice
C
MORAL
LIFE
Old Covenants & Prophets
Foreshadowing Christ…
SACRAMENTAL
LIFE
Paschal Sacrifice
Decalogue – First Commandment
“The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.” (Mt. 4:10)
Decalogue – First Commandment
 CCC and Mother Church addresses 1st
Commandment in context of:
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FAITH
HOPE
CHARITY
 Theological Virtues – received via the
Sacraments of the Church!
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“Seed of glory” … “Eternal life begun
here and now” – Garrigou LaGrange
Elevates us to supernatural help and
ability to worship and serve God
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Theological Virtues – flow from
sanctifying grace; infused at baptism,
renewed in the sacraments & have
God as their object and source.
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Hence … they are the proximate means
by which we can worship God and
serve Him
 Some infused virtues adapt man’s
faculties to the end/goal (Theological
Virtues)
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… others to the means (Moral Virtues)
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Theological virtues – adapt man’s faculties
for participation in the divine nature (a gift of
God, not acquired)
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Faith – we believe in God
and His revelation via
Scripture & Magisterium
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“the gift of God” – St. Paul
The basis of our
justification for it makes us
know the supernatural end
toward which we must tend.
Decalogue – First
Commandment
 Faith – we believe in God and His
revelation via Scripture & Magisterium
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Doubt, if voluntary, is a sin against faith
Jesus admonishes His disciples for weak
faith
Heresy, apostasy, schism – are all
attacks on faith, since the Church is
Christ’s bride and acts in His name and
person.
Decalogue – First Commandment
Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is
dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith
and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me
without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to
you from my works. (James 2:17-18)
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Hope – we desire heaven and
eternal life as our happiness;
“confident expectation of divine
blessing and the beatific vision of
God” (2090)
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Therese of Lisieux – “Mother, it is
the way of spiritual childhood, the
path of confidence and total
abandonment”
Confidence is theological hope
wholly impregnated with love – Fr.
Paul Marie-Eugene
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Charity – moves us to love God
above all else and neighbor as
self
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St. Thomas – “form of all virtues”
informs all with proper motive; it is
essence of our perfection
Directs all virtues effectively to
God himself.
God’s love “poured into our
hearts by the Holy Spirit” – St.
Paul
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Charity – moves us to love God
above all else and neighbor as self
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Pride, indifference and lukewarmness
opposed to charity.
 The source of our greatest
suffering is the deification of the
will. We make ourselves God – Fr.
Barrron
Decalogue – First Commandment
 “You shall have no other gods before Me”
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“… Him alone shall you serve…”
 False idols … what/who are our “Golden Calfs”?
 Not just pagan worship, but when we revere a
creature/thing in place of God (2113)
 Martyrs died rather than worship false idols.
 Materialism, impurity, pride
 Irreligion – atheism, agnosticism
 Superstition, divination, magic, etc.
Decalogue – First Commandment
 “No one denies God unless
he has some reason for not
wanting him to exist.”
- St. Augustine
 Today’s “false idols” – pride,
sensuality, money, materialism,
hedonism, individualism, greed
 In short – preferring any
created thing/person to God
Decalogue – First Commandment
 Prayer – “is an indispensable condition
for being able to obey God’s
commandments” (2098)
 Sacrifice – outward sacrifice must
express a spiritual, internal sacrifice “my
sacrifice is a broken spirit” (Ps 51:17)
(2100)
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Perfect sacrifice – Christ on the cross
 We are called to give all to God, like the
Rich Young Man and follow Christ.
Gannon.Dan@gmail.com
Suggested Reading …
 Servais Pinckaers, O.P. The Sources of
Christian Ethics (The Catholic University of
America Press, Washington, D.C.), 1995.
 Michael Dauphinais, Knowing the Love of
Christ (University of Notre Dame Press, Notre
Dame, Indiana), 2002.
 Dom Hubert Van Zeller, The Inner Search
(Sheed and Ward, New York), 1957.
 Evangelium Vitae (Gospel of Life) – John
Paul II