A NEW CREATION

2 Corinthians 5:17
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
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Virtue is moral excellence of a person. A virtue is a trait valued as being good. The conceptual opposite of virtue is vice. A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues the good and chooses it in concrete actions.

When we are baptized into Christ we are made a new creation. We are given the power and grace to live and act under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the gifts coming from Him. This grace enables us to grow in goodness through the moral virtues. Godly virtue proceeds from faith then knowledge then self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection and finally, love. God gives us all the strength and grace we need to live and grow as his beloved children.

Virtuous men and women abound in the Scripture: Joseph is a model of patience and long-suffering. Job is a model of perseverance in the face of calamity. Abraham is a model of faith and obedience. Joshua is a model of courage and determination. And our mother, Mary, of obedience and unselfishness. Characters that was formed through the years, a virtuous life made possible through the repeated performance of good deeds.

If, continually and over a long time, a person practices good deeds, he will form good habits. Good habits cultivated over a long time lead to the formation of good character. A godly character borne out of love. Without love, we can be certain there is no real faith. If the Christian supplements their faith with love, they will also have the other qualities because they all go together. How about you, what virtues do you possess?

Almighty Father, let us grow in our faith and in Your love. May we develop all the virtues that you want us to possess, as we continually grow and form these habits. You Son is our model and we should strive to be more and more be like Him, as we mirror Himself in us so others may see and imitate. Amen +

He redeems your life from destruction… crowns you with… compassion.