30 December 2021
Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
When I used to teach high school theology, I would have a unit on virtue ethics, starting with its ancient roots in the writings of the Greek philosopher Aristotle. I would end the unit with a discussion about the recent work of New York Times columnist David Brooks on virtue. He offers a distinction that resonated with my students between resume and eulogy virtues. Resume virtues are the features of one’s personality that might give a competitive edge in the job search and economic marketplace. Think of descriptions such as strategic, driven, successful, or dynamic. These descriptions could all be true and good given the context.
The other set of virtues are what he calls eulogy virtues. Eulogy virtues are what others say about you to capture the impact that an individual had on those around himself or herself. Words such as empathetic, faithful, caring, hospitable, enlivening could all be adjectives that capture eulogy virtues. Brooks’ point was to highlight working on the eulogy virtues earlier in life instead, as young people are wont to do, of an overriding emphasis on the resume virtues as they try to establish their careers.
I think our Gospel passage introduces a third category that really encapsulate the person of Deborah. From the few biographical details in the passage, we know she is a woman dedicated to worship, prayer, and fasting. In a Christian context, these activities orient us to the Kingdom of God, and so I call them “Kingdom virtues.” They make sense or are useful in their relation to making us ready to welcome Christ in our lives. I do not know if it is surprising that Anna was one of the few people in the Temple that day that recognized who Jesus was. Her practices in life kept her at the ready from the in-breaking of the kingdom, and she saw it in the most unexpected of places, a small child. Let us pray that God would grow these kingdom virtues in us. May we be ready to follow the Lord wherever God appears in our life.