Once Baal Shen, a Jewish Rabbi had a dream. He was in Heaven. He saw two empty seats and asked the angel for whom they were reserved. The angel told him one was for him and the other was for his companion if he used his intelligence.
Baal Shen went to see his companion and found that although he was a Jew, he was not following the Jewish laws. He was a very happy man with a lovely family.
The Rabbi asked him why he was not following the Jewish law. He said that he was very happy that he loved God and his neighbor.
Then Baal Shen visited hell and found two empty seats there too. The devil told him one seat was for him and the other was for his companion. Baal Shen then went to his companion and found that he was a strict Jew who kept all the external laws, but he and his family were not happy.
The Rabbi told him to change but he was not ready to change as he considered himself righteous for observing all the laws.
From this Baal Shen concluded that truly good and happy people are righteous. But not all the righteous are good and happy. We can be true to our calling as Christians if in addition to our love for God and neighbor we also attempt to keep the spirit of the law we practice, intact.
Submitted by Fr. Joseph Dovari