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The Spiritual Man, book by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

64- The danger of the one virtue

 

St-Takla.org Image: Number one in Arabic. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: رقم واحد باللغة العربية.

We also notice the danger of using one verse in matters relating to theology and dogma. The one virtue is also dangerous in spiritualities...

One may act in humility without wisdom, and he will be troubled because of the way people treat him, the loss of his dignity, and the loss of others’ respect... The cause would not be the virtue of humility! But because it lacked the connection with discretion and good understanding.

The same with the one who is responsible for work and management, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. He may act in the virtue of forgiveness and excuse those who do wrong, in a way that would make the work lose its management and becomes predominated by carelessness and lack of concern. That is because he lost the virtue of justice and firmness, thinking that punishment is a sin...

The examples about the danger of the one virtue are numerous... The spiritual man must be integral in his virtues.

He knows how to use each virtue at the time suitable for it. And how to use the other virtue on another occasion... with no contradiction... but with integration...

He knows when to forgive and when to punish, and how to be spiritual in both cases.

He knows when to mix with people , serve them and smile at their faces; and when to calm down to himself in solitude and privacy where he would meet no one...

He knows when to rebuke and when to preach, and when to say to the sinner: go in peace.

He takes the suitable action at the right time and for the cause calling for it.