A Fisherman’s Journey Through the Ten Commandments
November – The Second Commandment
The Second Commandment: “You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain.”
(Ex 20:7)
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
Season on the Water
The lakes show the first frost, a thin, fragile layer over the water—a reminder that our hearts must be careful and deliberate in faith. Though the waters are still dangerous to cross physically, they mirror the delicate balance of our spiritual journey—each step taken in reverence and trust in God. November’s Alberta waters are quiet, searching, and reflective.
October helped us anchor our hearts: God alone is first. Now, as winter’s stillness draws near, the fisherman learns another lesson—how to speak rightly before the Creator, and how silence itself can be a form of praise
The Commandment’s Heart
The Second Commandment is more than a rule against profanity. It calls us to honor God’s Name in speech, in oaths, and in worship. In the ancient world, a name showed presence; when God told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” He revealed a relationship, not a formula.
When the Word became flesh, God’s eternal Name took on a human voice. St. Paul says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10‐11). To take His Name lightly is to fail to respect the One whose presence we adore.
The experienced fisherman knows: careless words are like careless casts—they tangle the line and scare the fish away. Words spoken with truth and gentleness draw hearts closer to God.
Christ and the Name
In Jesus, the Name of God becomes a face we can love. The “Jesus Prayer”—“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”—turns the Name into a breath of the heart. Each prayer sanctifies every moment on the water and every encounter on shore.
Through His Name, Christ also blesses ordinary words: greetings, quiet thanks for a catch, or a kind conversation.
The Season’s Practices
- ● Begin and end each day with the Sign of the Cross, honoring the Holy Trinity.
- ● Pause before speaking, letting reverence guide your words.
- ● Pray the Jesus Prayer in daily tasks; each repetition is a trust cast into God’s mercy.
- ● When tempted to complain or speak harshly, imagine the ripples your words make across the hearts of others. Feasts of November
● Nov 30 – St. Andrew the First-Called: the fisherman whose words first pointed others to Christ. Closing Reflection As the November waters remain thin and fragile, we remember: the Lord’s Name is not a sound to toss lightly, but a Presence to adore. Every time we speak His Name, heaven listens; every time we pause in silence before Him, our hearts learn their truest language. Let us speak carefully, love deeply, and pray simply—for we navigate the delicate balance of our spiritual journey, casting our hearts in trust under His Name. Please pray for me, as I pray for you. We are in the same boat. Fr. Slavko Dumeč, State Chaplain Vivat Jesus
● Nov 1 – All Saints’ Day and Nov 2 – All Souls’ Day: a reminder to reset ourselves for God, like adjusting clocks in the fall.
● Nov 8 – St. Michael and All Angels: messengers proclaiming God’s truth.
● Nov 12 – St. Josaphat, Martyr: gave his life for the unity of the Church.
● Nov 15 – Beginning of the Nativity Fast (UGCC): a time to prepare for Christ’s coming through prayer and fasting.
● Nov 21 – Entry of the Theotokos: Mary, who treasured every word of God in her heart.
