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

YOUCAT Question n. 352 - Part III. 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 2086) "The first commandment embraces faith, hope, and charity. When we say 'God' we confess a constant, unchangeable being, always the same, faithful and just, without any evil. It follows that we must necessarily accept his words and have complete faith in him and acknowledge his authority. He is almighty, merciful, and infinitely beneficent…. Who could not place all hope in him? Who could not love him when contemplating the treasures of goodness and love he has poured out on us? Hence the formula God employs in the Scripture at the beginning and end of his commandments: 'I am the LORD'" (Roman Catechism 3, 2,4).

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 2088) The first commandment requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it. There are various ways of sinning against faith: Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated doubt can lead to spiritual blindness. 

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