The Tenth Commandment

  Here's the last Commandment in language you will remember:

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

HP 428    There is no moment of my life no place where I may go.........

Readings: Exodus Chapter 20 verse 17 and Romans 7 verses 6 to 11

In modern terms we might say: Do not be jealous of your neighbour's house, do not desire either the wife or husband, Do not be jealous of his job, their holidays,  their car, their kitchen or any of their possessions. Like all the commandments this is easy to agree with until we think a little. Most people wouldn't admit to being jealous but many have ambition and most of us would like to improve our lifestyle. Unfortunately if every one gave up wanting more, our country's economy would collapse and our life styles would rapidly deteriorate.  Beggars and charities could not survive if there were no one well off enough to give. The answer is some sort of balance and that is our daily responsibility. What we give to the Church or any other worthy cause is not nearly so important as what we do with the rest of our wealth. Everything we have comes from God and we can honour Him by what we do with it or we can choose to ignore Him. I believe that St Paul, in this difficult Roman's passage, is saying something like this, though I do not pretend to grasp it fully. I haven't mentioned Saint Francis for some time, but when he invented the Third Order, to which I belong, he made the idea of living simply (having enough but not excess or extravagance) part of our rule. Thus if I can get what I need in the Pound Shop, I do not need to go to Debenham's.  And of course there are many many more important things than goods and pleasures and many of them cost money. As we read though this Franciscan hymn let's be aware that following our Master often costs money as well as love and warm intentions.

HP 776     Make me a channel of Your peace, where there is hatred let me bring your love.....

Prayers: We thank God for all He has given us in creation and our ability to enjoy the small details. Let us think of Him as the  miracle of Spring once more begins to happen all around us We thank Him too for what He has allowed each to have personally and all the pleasures large and small which have enjoyed in the past which we can continue to treasure in our memories. Make us, dear Lord, Channels of Your peace and channels of your grace. Forbid us from desiring  more than we need or is good for us.

O Master, grant that we may never seek
                                So much to be consoled as to console,
                                To be understood as to understand,
                                To be loved as to love with all our souls.
                                                                                                Amen

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