Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill.
A man who fell in love with a people and with a cause, Lawrence of Arabia, reflects God who fell in love with the People and who asked Moses to lead them out of Exodus. We, too, are called to lead people into their own promised land of truth and goodness and never lead them away from the good by scandal. Taking away life-giving virtue by some bad example or scandal is a sin against this Fifth Commandment. Look in your own country, your own city, your own house: where is it difficult to live in Christianity, or where are the morals denigrating?
– Rather than seeing things and people from a pragmatic perspective, especially when situations are difficult for us, we must treat the person according to their dignity and their body with respect. We must help everyone to live and die with true human dignity through prayer, access to the sacraments, and moral health care.
– The basic principle of keeping peace also goes hand-in-hand with this Commandment: “Blessed are the Peacemakers”. War comes from a desire for revenge, from anger and hatred that causes us to do evil to someone. Instead, the Lord also says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”.
📍 Wadi Rum, Jordan
✝️ Bible References: Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; Matthew 5, 18; 1 Thess. 5:11 Genesis 4, 9; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; Isaiah 41:10; Jeremiah 11; Matthew 5
🎵 Music: The In Between | Song by Matt Maher
🎼 Instrumental music by Diego Antonio