Romans, Chapter 14, Verse 17-19
17 For the kingdom
of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit; 18 whoever serves Christ in this way is
pleasing to God and approved by others. 19 Let us then pursue what leads to peace
and to building up one another.
Today Elisha Otis sold his first
elevator in 1853 which made rising to the top of high buildings faster and
easier. Likewise this verse has a nugget of wisdom that helps us to find an
elevator to spiritual elevation. To quickly rise in grace be righteous, be at
peace and be joyful. Three steps easy to remember but not so easy to do.
Today I will outline Righteousness
and outline Peace and Joy on the next two following days.
The Virtues
1803 "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things."
A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the
good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best
of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and
spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.
The goal of a virtuous
life is to become like God.
1804 Human virtues are firm
attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that
govern our actions, order our passions, and guide our conduct according to
reason and faith. They make possible ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a
morally good life. The virtuous man is he who freely practices the good.
The moral virtues are acquired by human effort. They are
the fruit and seed of morally good acts; they dispose all the powers of the
human being for communion with divine love.
1805 Four virtues
play a pivotal role and accordingly are called "cardinal"; all the
others are grouped around them. They are: prudence, justice, fortitude, and
temperance. "If anyone loves righteousness, [Wisdom's] labors are virtues;
for she teaches temperance and prudence, justice, and courage."64 These virtues are praised under other
names in many passages of Scripture.
1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our
true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it;
"the prudent man looks where he is going."65 "Keep sane and sober for your
prayers."66 Prudence
is "right reason in action," writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following
Aristotle.67 It is not
to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It
is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it
guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that
immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and
directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this
virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome
doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.
1807 Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm
will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the
"virtue of religion." Justice toward men disposes one to respect the
rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that
promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. The just man,
often mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right
thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor. "You
shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness
shall you judge your neighbor." "Masters, treat your slaves justly
and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven."
1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties
and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist
temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of
fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials
and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in
defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song."70 "In the world you have
tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of
pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the
will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is
honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is
good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination
and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart." Temperance is often praised in the Old
Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your
appetites."73 In
the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety."
We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."
To live well is nothing
other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all
one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted
(through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It
obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so
as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).
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