Last Saturday, the St. Boniface Gold team won the Division Championship playoffs in the John Bower Sunday School Basketball League – Congratulations! Playing basketball or any sport takes a lot of practice and discipline. Most people do not walk onto a basketball court and play like an all-star. Even the most successful athletes take the time to practice their skills, listen to their coaches, and learn through their mistakes. Not only do all of these factors ensure that an individual player can succeed, but the entire team can grow and work together to win.

In this Sunday’s first reading (Exodus 20:1-17), God gives Moses the Ten Commandments – those laws that define the basic structure of the Judeo-Christian moral system. A moral system that defines our personal and communal responsibility in love of God and love of each other. Not simply given to Moses so that his life of faith would flourish, but that these commandments would be upheld and revered by the entire community of faith who walk in relationship with God and one another.

Our first reading gives us a chance to reflect on the main goal of the Ten Commandments: freedom. Sure, sometimes “rules and regulations” do not feel free in the passing moment, but practicing these laws and being disciplined in these commandments gives us the freedom to grow as a community of faithful disciples. Our life of faith takes a lot of practice – developing skills, listening to our coaches, and learning from our mistakes. But, practicing these commandments gives us the freedom to authentically work together as a faithful team and to win the lasting victory of love of God and one another.