The qualities of a righteous man
As we live our lives on a daily basis we are faced with decisions every day that test our character and beliefs. Many of these decisions are made without much thought or consideration. Some cause us to ponder what to do and others cause us to lose sleep and worry about. Some handle these daily tests better than others. What is the thought process for a person that wants to do the right thing for themselves, their neighbor and most of all their God?
Our decisions are made by a number of factors; the type person we are, the outcome we hope to have, the facts of the situation and how our decision might affect others. If we are selfish we don't care about the impact on others or the facts. We are only interested in an outcome that will benefit us. If we are foolish we don't care about the facts or how our decision will affect us and others.
What kind of a person are you? Are you the person you want to be? Are you the person God wants you to be?
Let's start our discussion with what kind of person God wants you to be.
The Old Testament was about the Law and to be a person in good standing you had to obey the Law. The Law was literally carved in stone, the Ten Commandments. Lawyers were not necessary to interpret the law it was clear and precise. 2000 years later that same Law is still written in stone but the "law" and many argue over what it means. The "law" has removed those Laws written in stone from many public places, our schools, our government and is actively seeking to clear it from the face of the earth. This is a paradox. How can the "law" be used to remove the Law. Because the is a big difference between the Law and the law.
Let's talk about that. The Law was handed down to Moses by God. It was given to him to provide a visible and clear means by which God wanted all people to live their lives. The other law is man's version of what is right and wrong. It changes from one court case to the next in a never ending spiral into depravity, greed and corruption. The world we live in is a result of man's law. Things would be quite different if we lived by God's Law.
The qualities of a righteous man in Scripture
Psalm 1
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 5
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my groaning.
2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, by Your abundant loving kindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.
9 There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself.
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.
11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Jesus' description of a righteous man in the Beatitudes. St. Matthew 5:3-10
· Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
· Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
· Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
· Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
· Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
· Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
· Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
· Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The blessed ones are the poor "in spirit", who by their free will are ready to bear for God's sake this painful and humble condition
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land
They who are humble and meek bend themselves down before God and man, shall "possess the land" and possess their inheritance in peace.
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
The righteous man is suffering (mourning)in himself and in others the tremendous magnitude of evil in the world and the great misery and injustice it brings. To such mourners the Lord Jesus carries the comfort of the heavenly kingdom.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill
"they that hunger and thirst after justice" represents a strong and continuous desire for progress in the pursuit of spiritual and moral perfection. The reward will be achieving that religious and moral perfection and the personal growth towards holiness that comes with it.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Those that perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy shall receive mercy from their God. Those that do not will reap what they sow.
Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God.
The "pure heart" is the simple and sincere good intention which results in the works of mercy in behalf of one's neighbor. The reward for this genuine commitment towards our neighbor is the heavenly reward that we all seek.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
The "peacemakers" are those who not only live in peace with others but do their best to preserve peace and friendship among mankind and between God and man, and to restore it when it has been lost.
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Those that "suffer persecution for justice' sake" are those that spread the word of God. The Apostles faced persecution and death because of their commitment to spread the truth and we should expect no less. We live in a world of rapidly increasing hostility towards people of faith and especially Christians. God does not tell us that we won't suffer He gives us His promise of salvation and eternity with Him if we do.
The Beatitudes represent the fundamental law of God's kingdom and the very essence of Christian faith.
In Matthew Kelly's book "The 4 Signs of a Dynamic Catholic" he states that research indicates that just 7% of the parishioners in a parish support it financially, spiritually and physically by taking part in things other than Mass. Think about that. 7%!!. Let's put that in perspective. If the Church were full at St. Mary's the people that sit on the sides in the front are the ones supporting the parish and the ones in the main section are not.
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