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CRITICAL VIRTUES
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Everyone knows (or should know) the three “theological virtues”—Faith, Hope, and Love/Charity. They are highlighted by St Paul at the end of I Corinthians 13. I personally love the way St Francis of Assisi prayed for them: “Give me right (correct) Faith, certain (confident) Hope, and perfect Charity.” You are probably also familiar with the “iconography” of these virtues: the Cross, the Anchor, and the Heart. The first and last are pretty self-explanatory; Hope is represented as an anchor because of a passage from the Letter to the Hebrews (6:18b-20—you can look it up!).
The ancient Romans also celebrated virtues, and Christians have embraced them, as well—the so-called “cardinal” or “natural” virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice. They are called “cardinal” from the Latin word for a hinge—on these social order hinges. I think we can all pretty well agree on that notion, as well. And sadly, we can see by our lack of basing our individual and communal lives on them, that our world’s societies are literally becoming unhinged…
There is another set of virtues that comes to us from the Greek philosophers and the Romans, especially the Stoics and neo-Platonists (don’t worry about those names). They are the True, the Beautiful, and the Good. Among others, St Thomas Aquinas makes a great deal of these in his writings. Aquinas was convinced that all three virtues need to come together to make a person virtuous, and that a lack of one or another (or a contradiction of one or another) makes for serious (perhaps fatal) moral defect. A small example is the idea, in fairy tales, of a beautiful witch—evil and beauty should never be brought together! “Evil” doesn’t necessarily mean powerful—in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the children ask the Beavers if Aslan is “safe.” Mr Beaver replies, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
This finally (!) brings us to the theme of the Gospel readings for this 4th Sunday of Easter, known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” And of course we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He can’t be anything but good, right? But words can be deceiving. In the Greek, the word usually translated as “good” is agathos; but the word in John 10 is in fact “beautiful,” kalos. It is a word that might or might not include moral goodness, but it’s primary meaning is to suggest that this person or thing is worthy of imitation. If you like, all art that is authentic art is worthy of imitation (in our lives, especially)—and therefore is beautiful. Jesus surely is “good,” but as shepherd He is also “beautiful,” worthy of being imitated (by us). He lays down His life for the sheep; the sheep know and love His voice; they follow Him joyfully and safely.
So Jesus is ultimately Good, and He is supremely Beautiful--worthy of imitation. In the power and reality of the Resurrection, we can also know that He is the Way and Life and Truth itself. He is the embodiment of Faith, Hope, and Love. He is the incarnation of Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude. All three sets of virtues come together in Him. Praise Him!