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“You don’t look down on anyone unless you are helping them up.”
-Marian G.-
Last edition we discussed the first four Commandments of the Decalogue. We are concluding our Lenten-Easter series with the latter six.
V. Thou shall not kill.
Most people aren’t psychotic and kill only for self-preservation. We deal death subtly, as in the case of the personnel managers who refuse employment to qualified applicants for reasons of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion. We kill when we refuse to take a stance on moral issues for lack of personal integrity. We murder and destroy when we ignore the cries of the poor and human rights issues because we don’t want to get involved.
By practicing the ‘opposite’ virtue we live this Commandment whenever we make choices that foster life. We choose life when we visit hospitals, fund favorite charities, participate in parish ministry and patiently listen to persons in need. We practice this Commandment by working in ministries that aid the homeless, battered women, abused children, the elderly and those incarcerated. All life is holy. Human beings must preserve and nurture life human, protect animals, and support environmental issues.
VI. Thou shall not commit adultery.
1930’s American film star Mae West said ‘an orgasm a day keeps the doctor away;’ she was right! Sex is one of God’s greatest gifts. Sex replenishes our species, bonds two people as one and it feels good! Sex is the most fun we can ever have without smiling.
Sex taken out of context (marriage) is counterproductive. When was the last time you heard a homily on sexual morality? If you’re like me and grew up during the 1950’s you might think those ‘old school’ homilists over did it; maybe so but for a good reason. They were serious about Salvation.
Sexual Puritanism and permissiveness are twin evils; one demonizes God’s great gift by labeling sex as sinful, evil, dirty, nasty, to be used solely for procreation and any pleasure derived is sinful. The other argument trivializes it by promoting random ‘hook-ups,’ swinging, homosexual sex, and perversity. Sex like drink, food, money, religion, the work ethic, and other positive things and activities must never be taken to extremes. We live the Sixth Commandment when we practice the opposite virtue by being faithful to spouses, take our wives/husbands to romantic getaways that serve to spice up our love lives, try to please our partners in novel ways, make the effort to perform sexually even when we’re not in the mood to please the other person, and learn new ways to spice up our sex lives. Sex should never be boring or routine.
VII. Thou shall not steal.
Stealing another’s money, property, identity, reputation, and creative ideas is sinful. Prisons are filled with career criminals. When I was a kid living in Hyde Park on Chicago’s south side after leaving the ‘Projects’ (Robert Taylor) my Mom told me she witnessed a wannabe’ stick-up man lying face up in the gutter in front of her bank. The dead man wore a dirty red bandana that covered his face in the stereotypical wild western bad man fashion.
We practice the positive aspects of this commandment when we obey the law. Being law abiding keeps you out of jail or ending up like that wannabe’ bank robber lying in the gutter with a quarter sized bloody hole in his head after being shot by the guard. Why would anybody want to breach copyrights, steal patents, steal another’s possessions, cheat in business transactions, rob banks, file frivolous law suits and sin against this Commandment?
We practice the opposite virtue when we defend the rights of others through consumer advocacy, championing a tax system that’s equitable, run for office, don’t shop lift, support elected officials who have proven track records of passing legislation that work for and defend the just rights of all the people and not fat cat special interest group lobbyists.
VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor.
My Mom had this simple recipe against lying. She would say “when you lie you steal” and I would top it off with “and when you steal you kill” implying that when we violate one Commandment we breach the whole Law. Lying destroys trust. When governments lie nations suffer. Think of the destruction and misery Hitler’s propaganda machine caused and is still causing humanity. Think of the hurt a husband inflicted when he lied about his gambling addiction which sent his family into bankruptcy. What about millions of investors duped out of their life savings when Enron’s directors and executives fraudulently lied about huge losses incurred in various company projects? Lies kill! Professional investors retire millionaires by keeping clients in the dark. They lie and find it easier to sell clients costly plans then grow rich at their expense. The antidote is Kindergarten simple; tell the truth and be honest in all business transactions; that way you honor God, uphold God’s people and you won’t wear orange or striped jump suits looking behind bars a ward of the state.
IX. Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s wife/husband.
A man died and was standing at the Pearly Gates waiting for St. Peter to let him in. Apostle Peter arrived and asked him ‘how did you die young man?’ The man replied ‘seen us trouble sir.’ The saint corrected him ‘don’t you mean sinus trouble?’ The man fired back ‘naw sir seen us trouble; when I was with this woman her husband seen us.’ The late Black comedian Rudy Ray Moore made a valid observation. Covetousness like adultery can be a recipe for a short life.
Sexual curiosity is natural. We all look at attractive members of the opposite sex. Reader, you love your significant other. You wouldn’t dare sleep with another person but you’re only human so you look and wish you could touch. Rev. Billy Graham said if I remember correctly in one of his Crusade sermons, it’s no sin to look at attractive men/women. The sin factor enters when we would do a lot more than look if given half a chance and act out of illicit fantasies. The priest in the movie ‘Doctor Zahivago’ told Julie Christie the Lara character that the flesh wasn’t weak but very strong when she confessed to him adding only the sacrament of matrimony can contain it; Padre was right. Only the practice of the corresponding virtue will contain the fire of our sexual selves.
X. Thou shall not covet your neighbor’s goods
Think of the damage jealousy, envy and greed has caused the world. We all have talents. We must use the good things God has so generously given us. We must serve the human community with love and professionalism. Madam Curie, Thomas Edison, Mother Teresa, Nicola Tesla to name a few great notables who used their talents for the betterment of humankind; so should we. My former retreat master used to say “we should make the world a better place just because we’re in it.” Next time ‘Sunny Ecuador-part one;’ peace be with you. (vamaxwell@yahoo.com)