Chapter 34 — "The Tenth Commandment: Embrace Poverty of Spirit"
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, Jesus Christ,
You are the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Hear our prayer for truth and integrity
in all segments of society today.
May the truth be spoken by us and affirmed in others,
that in seeking truth, the world will come to find You,
the Source of All Truth.
Wherever relationships are weakened
by deception or hypocrisy,
strengthen good Christian character among us
that we may bear witness to the critical need for truth.
May your Spirit of Truth fashion minds and hearts
open to a moral integrity so strong
that both words and actions can be trusted.
In public and private life,
deepen among us a genuine commitment
to honest, sincerity and truth-telling.
Let nations and peoples not compromise truth
by rationalization or pretense,
but safe-guard and defend it always
as Your most precious gift.
Lord, may those around us come to know
that they can take us at our word,
until that day when all the world lives in truth
and the Truth sets us free.
Amen.
Source: http://www.holynameebg.org
"THE TENTH COMMANDMENT: EMBRACE POVERTY OF SPIRIT"
—CCC, Nos. 2534–2557
What things do you desire that other persons have?
The Tenth Commandment “unfolds and completes the ninth….it forbids the coveting of goods of another, as the root of theft, robbery, and fraud, which the seventh forbids...The tenth commandment concerns intentions of the heart” (CCC, no. 2534).
Our first step on the way to happiness and joy begins with a healthy detachment from material goods. As Jesus warned:
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Mt 6:19-21)
The Seventh Commandment that we previously discussed concerns the visible acts of stealing and injustice. The Tenth Commandment calls us to extinguish those interior desires of greed and envy of others that can lead us to seek to acquire all the money and possessions we can, to steal from others and to act unjustly.
The Tenth Commandment calls us to practice poverty of spirit and generosity of heart that can free us from being slaves to money and possessions. We are called to adopt a simplicity of life that can free us from enslavement to consumerism.
We are called to humility, to thanksgiving for all the gifts and talents God has given to us, trusting in and surrendering to God’s providence and good will which frees us from anxiety about tomorrow and allows our minds, hearts, and actions to be led by the Holy Spirit. We are called to be good stewards of God’s gift of creation, to recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, and the source of all good. Through joyful appreciation for the wonder and beauty of creation, we use our particular God-given gifts and talents, in collaboration with others, caring for and cultivating the world, protecting and preserving the environment, and respecting the inherent dignity of all human life.
We are also called to be stewards of the Church through nurturing and educating our children in the faith, helping to make our parish a vibrant community of faith and source of service to the larger community, and in being generous with our time, talent, money, and prayers—according to our resources—to our parish, diocese, universal Church, and others.
As good stewards we seek to model the life and teachings of Jesus. We have truth and hope that “all things work for good for those who love God” (Rom. 2:28).
Please read this week USCCA,Chapter 34, "The Tenth Commandment: Embrace Poverty of Spirit"(pages 447–457), the CCC, Nos. 2534–2557, (pages 606–611), and the Compendium, Nos. 531–533
VIDEOS
"The Tenth Commandment" (Fr. Dan O'Reilly)
"Envy Will Destroy Us" (Bishop Robert Barron)
"Overcoming Envy and Dealing with Jealousy" (Fr. Mike Schmitz)
"Tenth Commandment: You Shall Not Covet"
Coveting Neighbor's Goods" - CCC 2534-2557 (Fr. Daniel Mahan)
MUSIC
"Still"
"Through It All"
"You Are My Hiding Place"
OTHER RESOURCES
Catechism Commentary: The Tenth Commandment"
"Thou Shall Not Covet: Avoiding Greed and Envy" (Bishop Thomas Olmstead)
The Seventh and Tenth Commandments" (Peter Kreeft, Ph.D.)
"Thou Shall Not Covet: Avoiding Greed and Envy" (Bishop Thomas Olmstead)
The Seventh and Tenth Commandments" (Peter Kreeft, Ph.D.)