Baptismal Obligations-Part III

So what is our baptismal obligation to ‘Keep My Word’.

This is probably best codified in Ten Commandments, clarified in the Beatitudes and by Jesus’ statement on the greatest commandment.

Ten Commandments:

1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Beatitudes:  Matthew 5, 3-12 (further clarification in the rest of Matthew 5, and Mathew 6-7)

• Blest are the poor in spirit: the reign of God is theirs.
• Blest too are the sorrowing; they shall be consoled.
• Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land.
• Blest are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill.
• Blest are they who show mercy; mercy shall be theirs.
• Blest are the single-hearted for they shall see God.
• Blest too are the peacemakers they shall be called sons of God.
• Blest are those persecuted for holiness’ sake; the reign of God is theirs.
• Blest are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you because of me.
• Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven; they persecuted the prophets before you in the very same way.

Greatest Commandment: See Mathew 22, 34-40

 “ ‘ …… You shall love the Lord your God with you whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments the whole law is based and the prophets as well.

What does this mean for us?

• In all matters related to relationships between neighbors, business associates, leaders, foreigners, family or friends, if you need to discern a correct action:
• Judge not lest you be judged, God is the only Judge.
• Treat all the people you encounter with charity/respect in thought, word and deed based on your ability/resources
• Assist the lowly, the sick and down hearted with kindness and comfort
• Do not defame, lie, cheat, defraud, steal or otherwise take unfair advantage of another just because you can.
• Avoid jealousy, hate, prejudice, fear and selfishness.
• Help your neighbor.
• If questions arise about a neighbors fidelity to the Word, mention it to them as a friend would (possibly pray with them).
• Do all of this without any expectation of reward except that of the treasures you will bank in Heaven’s ledger.

Adherrance to the Word, as your obligation related to your Baptismal Promises when you were Baptized into the Holy Spirit is not a major burden if you rely on Daily Prayer, the Holy Spirit/Paraclete, the Blessed Virgin Mary, your Guardian Angel and the Communion of Saints to help you when feel yourself distracted by the world and begin to drift away. Remmber that our Lord, Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, became to the ultimate sacrifice for us in order to redeem our sins, and forgive us in the eyes of God all to establish a New covenant with us. He provides is Grace, Marcy, Love, Peace, Wisdom, Courage and Strength to us and we adhere to His Word as outlined above. All we need to access the New Covenant is to ask.