Perfect and Peculiar

Homily for Saturday of the 1st Week in Lent

Today, Ezekiel uses the word virtue or virtuous no fewer than four times. Our mindfulness trigger for this Friday is the word “virtue.” Politicians like to use the word “values.” However, I really feel that so-called values are rather nebulous, almost as capricious as the clouds in the sky. For instance, when a politician talks about family values or American values, they tend to be based on a rather conservative understanding of what it means to be a family or an American.

Virtues on the other hand are specific, observable behaviors. The Church designates seven heavenly values and seven cardinal virtues. Heavenly values include such things as justice, temperance and fortitude. Cardinal virtues are the opposite of the seven deadly sins, things such as kindness, patience, and humility.

There are many different virtues. One of the more colorful friars from my past used to regale us at the table with words that we had never heard before – such as the virtue of eutrapilia. After letting the other friars guess what this virtue was all about, some of whom would say that he was making these virtues up for comic effect, he would tell us in all seriousness that eutrapilia was the virtue that distinguished social behavior in a group – a person who participated in the conversation in such a way as not to become the center of attention but who would also not be a so-called wallflower with nothing to contribute.  It basically came down to the correct amount of participation in a group activity. Look it up; it appears in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Today, let us remember the words of Ezekiel who taught us about living a life of virtue rather than a life of sin.