5 If a man is virtuous — if he does what is right and just:
- 6 if he does not eat on the mountains,
- 6 nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
- 6 if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
- 6 nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
- 7 if he oppresses no one,
- 7 gives back the pledge received for a debt,
- 7 commits no robbery;
- 7 if he gives food to the hungry
- 7 and clothes the naked;
- 8 if he does not lend at interest
- 8 nor exact usury;
- 8 if he holds off from evildoing,
The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe. -- Proverbs 16:17
It is simply impossible to lead, without the aid of prayer, a virtuous life. Necessity urges us to pray for ourselves. Fraternal Charity obliges us to pray for others. God finds the prayer motivated by charity to be more meritorious than the prayer motivated by necessity. -- St. John Chrysostom
The righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face (Ps 11:7). The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness (Prv 11:5). And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it (Is 35:8). The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act (Prv 21:29).
O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure (Ps 7:9). You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand (Ps 16:11). Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you (Ps 140:13). And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness (Ps 17:15).
Pericope:
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - Ezekiel 18:1-32
Published:
August 16, 2014 - 9:04AM
