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

YOUCAT Question n. 352 - Part VI. 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 2094) One can sin against God's love in various ways: - indifference neglects or refuses to reflect on divine charity; it fails to consider its prevenient goodness and denies its power. - ingratitude fails or refuses to acknowledge divine charity and to return him love for love. - lukewarmness is hesitation or negligence in responding to divine love; it can imply refusal to give oneself over to the prompting of charity. - acedia or spiritual sloth goes so far as to refuse the joy that comes from God and to be repelled by divine goodness. - hatred of God comes from pride. It is contrary to love of God, whose goodness it denies, and whom it presumes to curse as the one who forbids sins and inflicts punishments.      

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 2093) Faith in God's love encompasses the call and the obligation to respond with sincere love to divine charity. The first commandment enjoins us to love God above everything and all creatures for him and because of him (Cf. Deut 6:4-5).      

(The next question is: Why do we worship God?)