Previously, we looked at how keeping the Second Commandment meant showing respect to God’s name since His name itself is Holy. But keeping the commandment also entails the ways we speak both to, and about, God. 

 

One of the more serious sins which breaks this commandment is blasphemy. It involves saying, thinking or doing something that disrespects God in a direct way. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, it might involve expressing “hatred, reproach or defiance” toward God (CCC 2148). It might also mean speaking wrongly about Him or in a mocking or inappropriate way. It can likewise include those who represent God, such as people like priests, nuns, and the pope. 

 

Interestingly, blasphemy was one of the crimes the Pharisees accused Jesus of during the trial preceding His crucifixion (Mk 14:63-64 and Mt 26:65-66). This was because He said things indicating His divinity and His relationship with the Father, which, if He were not truly God’s Son, would have been considered blasphemous. 

 

Jesus revealed who God truly is, but this was seen as opposing who people believed God to be. 

 

For most believers, we might not think of being very tempted to blaspheme. We tend to think of it in terms of a sin committed by non-believers. Nevertheless, we still must be careful. 

 

For most of us, most of the time, avoiding blasphemy may not seem that difficult. However, there are at least two times in our lives when, even as believers, we may have to be especially careful to avoid even an internal incidence of blasphemy. 

 

The first is when we encounter a personal tragedy. Regardless of the individual circumstances or type of tragedy, it can be tempting to want to put the blame on God, either for not stopping it from happening or perhaps for even being its cause. 

 

Suffering, pain, loss or trauma can put us in the frame of mind where we naturally seek to understand “why?” — “Why this? Why now? Why this way?” 

 

If we find ourselves unable to understand, sometimes we can begin to point the finger at God and see Him as the culprit or at least as the one who failed us. If we’re not careful we can easily begin to have those thoughts of “hatred, reproach or defiance” against Him. If left unchecked, those same thoughts can become, in time, our basic disposition toward Him. 

 

We all may face times and circumstances when we struggle to understand, or simply cannot understand why something has happened. These can be true trials of our faith. But we must be careful that such trials are not allowed to obscure completely the vision our faith gives us, or the hope that is offered us despite them. 

 

For those going through such times, reading Job, chapters 38-42, can sometimes help keep us grounded. In those chapters God responds to Job’s protesting the trials he’s had to face, and reminds him that he doesn’t have the ability to understand everything that God does.

 

The second temptation comes in the form of inappropriate jokes or stories about God or religion. Even if we’re not the one telling it, we can easily be a part of an audience where such jokes are told — whether at work, in our choice of entertainment, or even at a gathering we attend. 

 

If something disrespectful toward God is said, we can find ourselves either laughing along to avoid drawing attention to ourselves, or simply keeping quiet. While not being guilty of blasphemy in a direct way, nevertheless we can still end up involved in someone else’s. 

 

As Christians, we must be especially vigilant to avoid participating in such things, even if we find ourselves caught off-guard by the joke or story. 

 

If for some reason we can’t avoid the situation, may we have the courage to be a faithful witness to God’s holiness and goodness, instead of someone who fails to recognize them as sacred enough to be always  respected and defended.