Catechesis Notes for the Week — Covetousness Is to Desire and Insist upon Having Something God Has Not Provided—How fitting it is that this week’s meditation upon the 9^th and 10^th Commandments should be the week of the Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. Prior to Matthew’s conversion and call to apostleship, he was a covetous tax collector for the Roman government, but in repentant faith he was turned from the worship of earthly wealth and ill-gotten gain to the Lord in whom there is true peace and contentment. Ahab Covets Naboth’s Vineyard is a classic narrative where we see the “scheming to get a neighbor’s inheritance or house in a way that only appears right,” but which was absolutely evil. Covetousness was injected into Paradise by the Serpent who enticed Adam and Eve to follow their appetites and desires in the Fall of Man into Sin. In contrast to a covetous heart and will which is governed by its passions rather than the Word and our faith in Christ, Jesus calls us to Confess Christ, Take Up Our Cross and Follow Him. He alone gives peace and contentment to our restless hearts as the old, covetous, sinful flesh is put to death through daily contrition and repentance and the new man of faith is raised up. In the Rich Young Ruler we see that a man who lacks Jesus, the only One who is truly good, is unwilling because of his covetous heart to let go of everything and follow Christ. The rich young ruler went away sad, because he had many possessions that had become his idol. We pray that the Lord would lead us to true repentance for our covetous desires and give us a heart that is content with our Lord and the gifts that He provides.CP220918