Virtues set forth as the goal of Christian character

When Jesus teaches us how to live a Christian life, he insists on virtues. He tells us about patience in Matthew (5:21): “You have heard how it was said to our ancestors: You shall not kill; and if anyone does kill, he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you, anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court.”

Jesus teaches us humility (7:3): “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the great log in your own? And how dare you say to your brother, ‘Let me take that splinter out of your eye,’ when, look, there is a great log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.”

Jesus goes far beyond virtue when teaching his disciples. What he tells us about becoming children of God and living in heaven forever is a divine revelation. Without this revelation, we would know nothing about it. Even so, notice that he starts by teaching us about virtues.

SUPERNATURAL LIFE

Before teaching us how to be lifted up into supernatural life where we can live with God in the next world, he teaches us how to be normal human beings so we can peacefully with each other in this world.

Before we are ready for the supernatural life of divine love, we need to practise living the natural virtues. There are the major ones — prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice.

The minor virtues are just as important — sincerity, chastity, sobriety, honesty, reliability, among others. Advice in self-help books is about learning these virtues. Notice how they take quotes from the Bible.

God refuses to build a temple of glory on foundations of vice. For instance, if you make no effort to overcome laziness so you can spend time in prayer every day, how can you call yourself a Christian? This is why Jesus told his disciples (5:48): “You must be perfect as your heavenly Father is.”

In your struggle to live a virtuous life, God gives you grace to conquer. You will have your ups and downs. But it’s not that hard. People work at acquiring virtues all the time — training to win a marathon, exercising to look more attractive, sticking to a timetable to advance professionally...

I insist — it’s not that hard. As someone once said: “What great fear people have of committing themselves to live a Christian life. If what they do to please the world were done to please God, what saints many of them would be!”