We are still early in Christmas and the great gifts of the third day (hope, faith, and charity) are followed by more. There is always more at Christmas, because God became man and the super-abundance spills out everywhere for always. If my true love gave me four things this Fourth Day of Christmas, I would hope that she would give me the four practical virtues: courage, wisdom, moderation, and justice. Most elusive, hardest to find, justice is needed now as justice is always needed. One reason we don’t get the gift of justice is we ignore the other three: courage, practical wisdom, and moderation.
Courage is the ability to do what must be done.
We have much rashness today. Even church youth groups wish to be (God forbid!) “radical.” Rashness is not courage, but zeal unconnected to any of the other virtues. The person who does a foolish thing, even against the tide, is a fool, not courageous. It is never right to mock or bully, but the bully or the mocker does not justify a different rash or selfish deed. Sometimes the worst things we do seem right to us, because of the opposition. Courageous people are not such cowards as to react to evil and so do evil: those with courage stand or advance or retreat as it is best to do so.
Worst still is the Christian who will take no risks. He picks the safe, bows to power, and whatever course those in authority maintain, agrees. He has no courage, because if what must be done requires doing something against immediate self-interest, then he will hide.
God give me courage.
Practical wisdom is knowing when it is time to act.
Some knowledge can be gained by books and much wisdom can come from informed discussion. That is education, but practical wisdom, the art of being a lady or a gentleman, can only come from finding a mentor.
Luke needs Obi Wan. Harry requires Dumbledore. Arthur must have his Merlin.
Finding a mentor is only the beginning. We must heed his or her council as Socrates listened to the wise woman Diotima. We practice and train ourselves to heed the inner voice of the Holy Spirit that begins to rebuild our minds and hearts.
The lady or the gentleman is educated and knows what to do and when to do it. To be simple, the gentleman knows how to be quiet and how to be loud. He is best summed up by Saint Paul: Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
God give me practical wisdom, so that I can do all things through Him that strengthens me.
Moderation is knowing how far to go in our actions.
If we must act courageously without being rash, then moderation tells us how far to go. Combined with practical wisdom, moderation keeps a lady or a gentleman from excess or defect. Moderation, like prudence, is not much in favor, because it does not make for drama and drama is entertaining.
Of course, drama is entertaining to watch, but devastating to live. We should strive (God help me!) to do no harm, but also to do good.
God give me moderation.
Justice is treating each person as a person: uniquely in the image of God.
Most important of all this life’s virtues is justice. We easily lose sight of justice, because justice demands we give up our truth for the truth. Humans, none of us, are quite normal. We all deviate from the ideal in some ways. Wise cultures have encouraged each of us to be honest, but also to move forward toward justice: the Image of God.
We dare not encourage any person to be less than that Image. We must dare to seek mercy and grace for every human being . . . even those that have chosen badly . . . because all of us remain in His image at our core. We are broken, but even the most smashed bits are beautiful, like ruins in an English countryside.
God grant justice, but have mercy.
Merry Christmas!
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