Covenant first, commandments afterward
God frees his people before giving them the Ten Commandments. The moral law protects the relationship already given: worship of God, respect for his day, family, life, love, property, truth, and integrity.
Jesus does not abolish the commandments but fulfills them in love of God and neighbor. He leads us to the roots of our actions: anger, possessive lust, deceit, greed, and idolatry in the heart.
Suggested reading: Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 5:17-48. Authentic love goes beyond the minimum required by law without denying the boundaries that protect the human person.
Questions that should not be studied in silence
Moral teaching concerns concrete choices about protecting life, sexuality, marriage, money, work, communications, justice, and the poor. Personal questions should be discussed in a safe and respectful setting, without humiliation.
Which commandment have I understood merely as a prohibition? What value or relationship is that commandment protecting?
Choose one commandment and complete two columns: what to avoid; what positive good to do. Carry out one action from the second column this week.
References
Path progress
The Ten Commandments and the Commandment of Love
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