by Fr. Gregory-David Jones, O.S.B.

      Most people who identify themselves as Catholics will easily verify that they believe in Jesus if asked.  However, if the additional question is asked, “What is the proof that you really believe in what you profess?”, the answer would vary from person to person.  Some would state that they go to church every Sunday, practice some type(s) of devotion, read their Bibles, etc.  However, very few would say that they keep the commandments.  Why is that?

     At the very basic level, the commandments are centered on loving God and neighbor.  Most Catholics believe in the commandments as the rule of life (including the “new” commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved us), but we generally do not point to our keeping the commandments as evidence of our faith either because of an awareness of our weaknesses and failures or because we don’t want to portray ourselves as self-righteous.  However, the reality is that the belief in our minds and hearts must manifest itself in our words, thoughts and actions.  In some ways we all have fallen short in following the commandments.  Does this mean that we are all hopeless or hypocrites or we are not genuine in professing the Catholic faith? Absolutely, not!

   Jesus did say that our love for him is evidenced in our keeping of the commandments.  However, our faith in the Lord as our Savior also means that we look to him as the source of mercy and redemption when we fail to love him, our neighbor and even ourselves as we should.  We believe that his sacrifice for us on Calvary is greater than any sin.  By professing faith in the Lord, we are not claiming to be perfect; we recognize sin for the ugly reality that it is, denounce the wrongs we have done and strive to overcome our faults.  Love for Jesus is expressed in keeping the commandments, but love for him is also expressed in our struggle to overcome our sins and not give up.

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