Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 352 – Part IV.

YOUCAT Question n. 352 - Part IV. What is the meaning of the commandment, “I am the Lord, your God” (Ex 20:2)?

(Youcat answer - repeated) Because the Almighty has revealed himself to us as our God and Lord, we must not place anything above him or consider anything more important or give any other thing or person priority over him. To know God and to serve and worship him has absolute priority in our life.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2089) Incredulity is the neglect of revealed truth or the willful refusal to assent to it. "Heresy is the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him" (CIC, can. 751: emphasis added).   

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) God expects us to give him our full faith; we should place all our hope in him and direct all the strength of our love toward him. The commandment to love God is the most important of all commandments and the key to all the others. That is why it stands at the beginning of the Ten Commandments.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2090) When God reveals Himself and calls him, man cannot fully respond to the divine love by his own powers. He must hope that God will give him the capacity to love Him in return and to act in conformity with the commandments of charity. Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God; it is also the fear of offending God's love and of incurring punishment.      

(This question:  What is the meaning of the commandment, “I am the Lord, your God” (Ex 20:2) is continued)