Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on 4th Sunday of Lent.

My dear Parishioners,

Peace! There are nine (9) “In Brief” articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church addressing the First Commandment of the Decalogue, ‘You shall not have other gods.’ The following is a reflection on CCC 2139.
Four further crimes against the First Commandment are enumerated by the Catechism, namely, irreligion, tempting God, sacrilege and simony.

Sins of irreligion are sins against the First Commandment. Irreligion has been defined variously, so as to include the absence, hostility, indifference and even rejection of religion. Because the First Commandment binds us to believe in God and all that He has revealed, to exclude God from our lives and society is an offence against God. To be hostile to God and His self-revelation is likewise an affront to the Almighty. To be indifferent to God and His revelation is likewise offensive to God and puts a block on the graces and blessings He so wishes to share with us. The etymology of the word “religion” includes the Latin re-ligare for re-connect or tie together. Saint Augustine (AD 354–430) has an entire doctrinal treatise entitled "On the Profit of Believing”(de utilitate credendi) which addresses, of course, religion and its importance.

To tempt God, by word or deed, is a sin against the First Commandment. The Hebrew words nasah and massah and the Greek words peirazo and peirasmos translate respectively as “to prove” “try” “tempt” “temptation” “to try”“ ”prove“ ”a trial“ ”proof." Who are we to test or try God? The devil tempted Jesus Christ (cf. Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13). The three-fold temptations address different aspects of our lives: hunger, faith and power. The providence of God, belief in God and the might of God are all parts of the First Commandment, to have no other gods than God. Jesus Christ, in His human nature was tempted as we are, yet never sinned (cf. Hebrews 2:18; 4:15–16). Part of keeping the First Commandment includes fighting against sin and Satan in our lives and in the world with the power of God’s Word and grace.

Sacrilege is a sin against the First Commandment. The Greek word hierosuleo translates into the English words to commit “sacrilege,” “rob temples,”“robbers of temples” (cf. 2 Maccabees 4:39, Acts 19:37; Romans 2:22). Sins of sacrilege include the desecration of sacred persons, places and things. Sacrilegious murder includes the killing of people (especially religious monk, nuns, and clerics) because of their faith. The desecration of church buildings are likewise sacrilegious. Defacing sacred images (icons, statues…) fall under the heading of sacrilege. Sacrilegious Communion is to receive Holy Communion while in a state of mortal sin.

Simony is a sin against the First Commandment. The sin of simony is the attempt to buy or sell that which is holy, God’s grace, etc. This sin takes its name from Simon Magus (Simon the magician / sorcerer) who sought to buy the miraculous divine power from Saint Peter as recorded in Acts 8:9–24.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr