RBWords

     Jesus' statement today goes to the heart of what we would call "character" or "integrity."  Later development in Christian moral thought found the moral philosophy of the Greeks and Romans a helpful instrument in expressing the idea: "By their fruits you will know them."  The principal notion is "virtue."  This is defined as a disposition to act in a particular way.  A virtuous Christian person will behave in a way that is compatible with Jesus' teachings because they have "interiorized" certain values which influence their decisions.

 

     When I lived in Kentucky [2005-2009] I was invited to teach a course in "bioethics" to some health care students.  My preparation for the course required me to become reacquainted with some of the major schools of ethical thought in modern times in addition to what I know from my studies in philosophy in the seminary.  I noted the resurgence of "virtue ethics" in teaching health care students because this approach aims at forming values [virtues] in students that will make them more caring and compassionate, and, indeed, more critical of certain types of medical decisions in our time that show less care for the human dignity of the patient and more care for the benefit of the health care provider!  A more compassionate health care professional will have a positive impact on patient healing.  We all react well to being treated in a compassionate and caring way.  But we are only a case in a room, we react negatively.  Thus, the "fruits" of this way of training are obvious.

 

     Recent financial scandals involved in the 2008 economic crash showed a complete lack of moral integrity on the part of certain individuals and institutions.  All that mattered was the "bottom line" and the "performance bonus."  Bad trees produced bad fruit.  Jesus' homely images ring true two thousand years later.  Following him and interiorizing his teachings will lead to great good fruit!   AMEN