Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Pericles

It is said about Pericles that he was a man of almost perfect human beauty except that his head was oblong and resembled a gourd, so that he was subject to ridicule when he appeared bareheaded in public. In order to conceal the defect of this great man of his people, Greek sculptors always portrayed him with a helmet on his head. When some of the pagans knew how to conceal the defects of their friends, how much more, therefore, are we Christians obliged to do the same? Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another (Romans 12:10), commands the Apostle to those who cling to Christ. How can we say that we adhere to the meek and All-pure Christ, if we daily poison the air with tales about the sins and short-comings of others? To conceal your own virtue and the shortcomings of others--in this is preeminent spiritual wisdom.

This is from the Reflection in the Prologue today (April 9 O.C.)