TEN COMMANDMENTS / TEN EXCEPTIONS – A Worldly Assault on the God’s Divine Law

Homily – 3rd Sunday of Lent – B
Exodus 20:1-17
(Deuteronomy 5:6-21)

How does thee world cleverly draw us away from faithfully obeying the Ten Commandments and how does St. Joseph serve as a model of perfect adherence to them?

Fr. Bill talks about the Ten Commandments of God’s Law, what “Commandments” are imposed upon us by the secular world, and how the world draws us away from faithfully living the Ten Commandments by cleverly weaving a series of “exceptions” to the Commandments themselves that may be more familiar, and startling than we realize.

GIVING the DEVIL the BENEFIT of LAW

Thomas More, Joseph and a Disobedient Leper
Homily – 6th Sunday of the Year (B)
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
Mark 1:40-45

We are moved by the faith of the Leper in approaching Jesus, the compassion of Jesus in curing the Leper; but are we all that impressed with the Leper’s subsequent disobedience to Jesus command? Fr. Bill discusses the often overlooked aftermath of Jesus cure of the Leper in the Gospel of Mark; an aftermath that has grave and serious repercussions for the ministry of Jesus, and serves as a sobering example of the importance of God’s Law, and our obligation to obey.

GOD’S “GREEN” LAWS – The Ten Commandments & Creation (Series Finale)

The Ten Commandments – Video #22
God’s Creation, Jesus’ Command to Love, and the Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments are “Green Laws” in that they complement the dynamic of God’s laws of God’s Creation.

In the concluding video to this series, Fr. Bill discusses this dynamic, as well as how the Commandments are related to Jesus Commandment to “Love One Another”.

THE “GATEWAY” SIN – Is “Wanting” a Sin?

The Ten Commandments – Video #21
“You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Wife”
“You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbor’s Goods”



“You Shall Not Covet…” deals with an interior disposition of desire; but does it make any “wanting” of anything a sin?

Fr. Bill discusses the last two Commandments of the Ten Commandments, classifying desire and want with the serious sin of “Coveting” and how it is the “gateway” to all other prohibitions of the Ten Commandments.

ONE COMMANDMENT or TWO – “You Shall Not Covet…”

The Ten Commandments – Video #20
“You Shall Not Covet…”

There are two traditions regarding the Commandment, “You Shall Not Covet”. One is contained in a single 10th Commandment, the other splits it into the 9th and 10th of the Ten Commandments.

Which tradition is the correct one?

Fr. Bill talks about how these two traditions came about, including the origin of both traditions.

LEGAL & MORAL TRUTH – The 8th Commandment

The Ten Commandments – Video #19
“You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor.”

“Bearing False Witness” connotes a legal setting, but in the Christian context, with the teachings of Jesus, “TRUTH” is an important part of our cultural and faith “identity”.

Fr. Bill discusses the 8th Commandment – “You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor” in light of the broader standard that the People of God, and the Followers of Christ, be known as People of the Truth.

STEALING FROM GOD – The 7th Commandment, pt. 2

The Ten Commandments, #18
Stealing What is Yours
“You Shall Not Steal”

Is it possible to steal what is rightfully ours? Can one be guilty of stealing from the Poor and Stealing from God?

Fr. Bill expands on the 7th Commandment, “You Shall Not Steal” and shows how God worked into the Biblical Law His desire for us to share what is ours with those in need, while also providing for the Worship Life of the People.

STEALING PEOPLE & PROPERTY – The 7th Commandment, pt. 1

Video #17 — The Ten Commandments
“You Shall Not Steal”

“Thou Shall Not Steal” is usually associated with the property and possessions of others. How can it be understood in terms of the Exodus from Slavery brought about by God for His Holy People.

Fr. Bill discusses the 7th Commandment in terms of People, as well as Property, and relates “You Shall Not Steal”t to the dignity of labor God brought to the People of Israel in contrast to Slavery for a powerful overlord.

About “ORIENTATION” – The 6th Commandment, pt. 3

Video #15 – The Ten Commandments
“You Shall Not Commit Adultery”

An important issue regarding Human Sexuality is the issue of “Orientation”. Fr. Bill discusses this sensitive topic and how it applies to the 6th Commandment – “You Shall Not Commit Adultery”

IT’S ALL ABOUT “LOVE” – The 6th Commandment, pt. 2

Video #15 – The Ten Commandments
“You Shall Not Commit Adultery”

Human Sexuality is popularly reduced to being “all about love”; but how does the Holy Bible deal with the issue of Love and how does it apply to the 6th Commandment, “You Shall Not Commit Adultery”?