16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

I, the Lord, am your God. . . . You shall not have other gods besides me.

In ancient times, pagan priests portrayed their gods as vindictive and capricious. According to them, sacrifices like choice meats and fine wine were meant to appease those gods, but in reality they actually benefited the priests. In contrast, the one true God gave commandments that were for the good of his people, not for his own benefit or the sole benefit of his priests. He was teaching them how to live as a people set apart specially for him.

A good example is the first commandment. God told the Israelites to turn from the “other gods” that the other nations worshipped (Exodus 20:3). He commanded them to worship him alone so that they could live in harmony with his love and designs and experience the blessings of being his people.

From the beginning, the Jewish people understood the Ten Commandments as a source of blessing and protection for them. They knew that God had already done so much for them: he had covenanted himself to them, delivered them from slavery, and provided for their needs. By following his commands, they could honor him for his goodness and grow into the people he had called them to be.

These commandments are more than three thousand years old, but their purpose hasn’t changed. God has done so much for us in Christ: he has forgiven us, redeemed us, and filled us with his Spirit. Now, obeying his commands is our way of responding to the mercy and love he has poured out on us. It’s our way of making sure we stay close to him and live in a way that reveals his love to the people around us.

We live in a world darkened by sin and confused about what is good and true. But God’s commands still set us apart. As we respond to his mercy with obedience, we can shine to the world around us. We can reveal the goodness of the God who has given us his law, and our lives can become open invitations for others to come and meet that God in their own hearts.

“Lord, thank you for giving me your commands, which can bring me the fullness of life!”

Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19:8-11
Matthew 13:18-23