A Lenten Word - Virtue (Virtuous)

Homily for Friday of the First Week in Lent

Today we hear from the prophet Ezekiel:

“None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.”

The mindfulness word or cue that I suggest for this Friday of the First Week in Lent is “virtue” or “virtuous.” There are different translations that use the word “justice,” but I personally think the word virtue is more powerful. We all know what virtues are, and we all know some virtuous people. What is it that sets them apart?

Oftentimes we hear politicians speak of values. They tell us that they have the same values that we have – values such as family values or community values, etc. The word “values” is open to many different interpretations. Personally, I would like to hear of a person’s virtues rather than their values because virtues are specific observable behaviors whereas values are as nebulous as the clouds in the sky.

Which virtues are characteristic of your behavior? Would you consider yourself a virtuous person? As we go through this day, we have an opportunity to search our minds and hearts to discover whether we are people of virtue. The prophet Ezekiel repeats the words “virtue” or “virtuous” at least six times in this particular reading. It is obviously something that he values; pardon the pun.