Second Commandment PDF

SH AL L NO T YOU THE NAME AKE T THE LORD OF GO D IN R YOU AIN V The second commandment commands reverence for God’s holy name, which represents God Himself. We fulfill the Commandment positively every time we repeat the prophet Isaiah’s text in the Eucharistic Acclamation...

SH AL L NO T YOU THE NAME AKE T THE LORD OF GO D IN R YOU AIN V The second commandment commands reverence for God’s holy name, which represents God Himself. We fulfill the Commandment positively every time we repeat the prophet Isaiah’s text in the Eucharistic Acclamation: “Holy, holy, holy, lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. However it is doubtful whether many Filipino Catholics understand the full meaning of this Commandment. For many, the commandment is concerned only with forbidding using God’s or Jesus’ name in anger or condemning all coarse, vulgar speech and profanity as degrading for professed disciples of Jesus Christ. More technically, it means BLASPHEMY (speaking God or the saints with contempt), CURSING (calling down punishment on others), and taking false oaths (using God’s name to confirm a false statement). The second commandment surely does forbid such speech.  Name in the bible It is common knowledge that “name” for the people of the bible held a special importance and power. The “name” stood for the person; the name made the person present and active. God’s name was conceived as the presence of God himself. When the name was truly spoken and God’s word was remembered, God was really present and speaking through His remembered word. So, the name of God was God’s gift to His covenant people. To swear falsely using God’s name was to break the covenant. (e.g. Parents) It was believed that by knowing the name of God, someone gave power over that person. Jesus played on that common belief when expelling unclean spirits. Moreover, the phrase “name in vain” means more than coarse language. Originally it referred to using God’s name in sorcery, invoking curses on others and conjuring up evil spirits, or claiming the power inherent in God’s personal name to do harm to others.  Revere nce for God’s name. God’s naming of Himself was an act of revelation. In answer to Moses’ question about his name, he replied: “I am who I am.” Through this name, God expressed His eternal self- sufficient uniqueness, His Lordship over history’s temporal sequence of past, present and future. As Christians, we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We received into the Body of Christ, the Church, graced with the Holy Spirit, and given our own Christian names. Thus, we are drawn into the communion of the Triune God as sons/daughters of the Father. But it is not rare that as Filipinos mature, some of this natural reverence of the child is left behind. The Second Commandment becomes very applicable, both in regard to lack of reverence for God’s name and lack of respect for their fellow human persons. In reverence for God, oaths and vows are made on solemn occasions. To be “holy” they should not be made for trivial purposes, nor entered into rashly, but must be truthful and enduring. Regarding respect for others, sometimes religion itself is misused, either in frightening people with threats of eternal punishment, or enticing them with calls for superficial, emotionally-laden conversions. Both are misuse of power in the name of God. Religion should never be a tool for frightening people, nor a palliative promising joy without substance, love and forgiveness without demands.  Second Commandment God’s name is a form of revelation and covenant. Acknowledging God’s presence necessitates revering His Holy name. The name points up and encapsulates one’s character and experiences. There is joy and liberation in God’s name.