Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
(Galatians 5:18-25; Luke 11:42-46)
It is a tragedy that the Boy Scout movement is hemorrhaging so
badly. At least in the United States, it
is trying to rebuild after filing for bankruptcy. For most of the twentieth century Boy Scouts
developed both spiritual and physical skills that are essential for excellent
citizenship. Many men today can name
from memory Boy Scout “laws” that sound much like the virtues St. Paul lists in
today’s first reading.
The list, known as the “fruits of the Spirit” can be neatly
divided into three groups of three virtues.
The first three -- love, joy, and peace – epitomize life in the Holy
Spirit. How should a Christian be if not
loving, joyful, and peaceful? To support these dispositions, the Christian must
develop generosity, kindness, and gentleness.
And this is done through faithfulness, patience, and self-control.
Working through human agency, the Holy Spirit relies on
teachers and models, both in the home and away.
Parents who are both firm and loving usually influence development of
virtue to the greatest degree. Teachers,
and here can be added Boy Scout leaders, also can play a critical role. Finally, friends will leave a telling mark on
a person’s character.
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