The Second Commandment continues the reflection on the commandments that focus on our relationship with God.  When Moses asks God who he should tell the Egyptians sent him to save his people Israel, the Lord responds with YHWH.  The Jews traditionally see the Lord’s given name to Moses as so sacred that it cannot properly be spoken.  To know someone’s name is a sign of trust and relationship with the person.  God shares his name with us to enter into a relationship with us.  This commandment focuses on the name of God, for as Scripture states “Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever” (Psalm 113:1).  The name of the Lord is holy, thus we must respect it and give it glory.  How do we ensure that we keep the name of the Lord holy and not in vain?

              Abuse of the name of the Lord relates to any name that God is known.  This includes Lord, Jesus Christ, etc.  Any name by which God is known to us should be respected as sacred and holy. 

              One of the first things we should protect against is making promises or oaths while misusing the name of the Lord.  False oaths and swearing in the name of the Lord violate this commandment, for promises in God’s name engage in divine honor, fidelity, truthfulness, and authority.  To be unfaithful would not only make ourselves into sinners, but dishonor God’s name by making Him to be a liar.  When we take an oath or promises in someone else’s name, we are attaching our word to theirs.  An example of this is the Sacrament of Marriage.  The couple is making a vow with each other before the Lord, and with God as a witness, He blesses the marriage.  Any violation of the marital vows does dishonor to the holy name.  Testimony in court becomes sacred when a witness is sworn in.  To commit the crime of perjury is also a sin against God for going against the truth.

              Blasphemy is also opposed to the Second Commandment.  This goes beyond just speaking ill of God.  For us as Catholics, this also includes speaking anything against the teachings of the Church.  Christ entrusted St. Peter and his successors to safeguard the Truths of the Faith.  When Jesus proclaims Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, He attaches the name of the Lord to the Truths of the Faith.  Theology can grow and enlighten, and dialogue is a mutual exchange of ideas, but one’s personal views does not give them the authority to choose to not practice something the Church teaches to promote others to violate the truths that come from God. 

              The way to live out the Second Commandment in the positive is through the relationship with God.  At our Baptism, the first thing the priest or deacon asks the parents is the name of the child presented.  This is not a formality or the minister checking the name since he does not know.  It is because the child is called by name to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the waters.  The name of the Lord meets the child who is newly initiated into His Church.  God’s name is spoken and revealed to the child as the child’s name is revealed to the Lord, thus beginning the relationship between God and child.  Our lives then are deepening that relationship with the one who shared His name with us first. 

              In that light, God’s name is holy for it is the name of the Creator of our lives.  The sharing of the name is personal and intimate, thus we should respect the divine Name of our Creator and guard the Name of the one who reveals that Truth to us.