The seven deadly sins: How fun is that?
The seven deadly sins are sins that will get us the ticket to Hell
I was looking forward to writing this reflection. We had just celebrated Christmas and the Epiphany and I was all set to write a fun and uplifting reflection. Then I pulled up the readings and discovered the first reading focuses on the seven deadly sins. How (ahem) fun is that?
Saturday after Epiphany
1 John 5_14-21
John 3_22-30
Well, since the seven deadly sins is what I got, I will reflect on that. This is the beginning of the New Year and we sometimes think about New Year’s resolutions. If you look into the seven deadly sins, you may find something to work on during the year.
John begins by saying that if we sin and it is not deadly we should pray and God will give him life. If our sin is deadly, then prayer alone may not be enough. Fortunately, all sin can be forgiven through confession.
The seven deadly sins are sins that will get us the ticket to Hell. With that in mind, it becomes apparent that we need to know what they are. Starting from the top, they are Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust. The single word does not tell you much about the nature of the sin. So, I will try to elaborate on each one.
Pride is the king of deadly sins. C. S. Lewis says that it is the root of all sin. Its theme song is “I Did I My Way”. It is the excess love of self and/or the desire to be more important and better than others. With that in mind, we can see how excessive pride can lead us to any of the other deadly sins. Humility is the virtue opposite of Pride. Humility requires us to acknowledge God’s gifts and the help He provides us on our way.
Envy is a state of one who thinks that God was unjust in distributing the goods and gifts of this creation. An envious person will always find others with more gifts or goods than himself. Admiration, on the other hand, is praising God for the blessings we have and the blessings God has given to others.
Wrath is a lesser deadly sin. Despite that, it is still a deadly sin. Striking back with a vengeance after an injury caused by another is a sign of wrath. Forgiveness should be our response. This is sometimes difficult. However, it helps to recall that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do”. If Jesus can do that for those who tortured and crucified Him, then I can do it as well.
Sloth is generally understood as laziness or indifference. It is the indifference to morals and secularism. It is a sin to be neither hot nor cold. God clearly expresses his feelings toward mediocrity in the book of Revelation. I may have to get rid of my Sloth Boy recliner. Zeal is the antidote for Sloth and our way of letting our beliefs and principles be known.
Greed is an unreasonable desire for riches and/or power. A song typifying Greed is “Can’t Get No Satisfaction”. A greedy person will never be satisfied with what he has. Instead of worrying about what we don’t have, we should concentrate on what we already have. Generosity is the offset of greed. I have a closet full of clothes I haven’t worn in a long time. A good Lenten thing would be to donate the clothes I do not wear to a charity.
Gluttony is the sin of overindulgence. This can be overeating, alcoholism, or anything done in excess. Our country, in general, is overweight. I know I am. I don’t consider myself a glutton, but I know I could reduce the amount I eat. This is Asceticism or self-denial. We see the word fasting in the Bible a lot. Fasting can go from eating only bread and water for a day to passing on dessert even though we want it. When we deny ourselves physically, we strengthen ourselves spiritually.
Finally, there is Lust. It is an intense desire for something we do not have. We usually associate lust with the desire for sexual pleasure. It also includes the desire for money, power, or fame. Adam and Eve failed due to their lust to become like God. Chastity is our cure for Lust. Chastity includes purity, virtue, innocence, and modesty.
Since deadly sins can lead us to hell, we must know what they are. Although we may not commit a deadly sin, knowing them can be useful for an examination of conscience. Rather than losing sleep over the deadly sins, we should concentrate on practicing the virtues of Humility, Admiration, Forgiveness, Zeal, Generosity, Self-Denial, and Chastity.
The other night I was watching the end of the Washington Commanders versus the Atlanta Falcons game. Jayden Daniels, Washington’s quarterback drove his team to a game-winning touchdown. The reporter asked Jayden how he managed that feat. He answered by saying that first, he credits God for his abilities. Then Jayden explained the drive to the reporter. Then the reporter turned to the receiver who caught the winning touchdown pass. He said that, like Jayden, he gives credit to God and thanked Jayden for allowing him the opportunity to complete the play. The reporter then asked Jayden what he said to the losing quarterback. Jayden said the other quarterback is his friend and a man of God. I told him he is a great quarterback and that he will have an impact on the NFL. This is the perfect trifecta of living the virtues rather than fearing the deadly sins.
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