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

YOUCAT Question n. 352 - Part V. 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 2134) The first commandment summons man to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him above all else. (CCC 2133) "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength" Deut 6:5). (CCC 2091) The first commandment is also concerned with sins against hope, namely, despair and presumption: By despair, man ceases to hope for his personal salvation from God, for help in attaining it or for the forgiveness of his sins. Despair is contrary to God's goodness, to his justice - for the Lord is faithful to his promises - and to his mercy. 

  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 2092) There are two kinds of presumption. Either man presumes upon his own capacities, (hoping to be able to save himself without help from on high), or he presumes upon God's almighty power or his mercy (hoping to obtain his forgiveness without conversion and glory without merit).  

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