I fell to musing about the Seven Deadly Sins and how many I am guilty of - or, at least, just guilty enough to admit to.
Lust. “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love [and] peace...”
There are things - not people, you'll be pleased to know - that I would rather like to have. A private plane, to visit my Australian family and friends. A television with decent sound. A magic weight loss formula. But probably not to the degree that Lust implies. So No. Anyway, "youthful" counts me out.
Gluttony. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Oh dear, if this means eating and drinking too much of things that may not be good for me - burgers, cream horns, Armagnac - and for my sake, rather than God's, then this is a definite Yes.
Greed. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have."
In the sense that I want more than my fair share of the pie, or a richer lifestyle, definitely No.
Sloth. “Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.”
That's me. I'm the sluggard. Yes
Wrath. “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”
I consider myself a courteous driver, maybe even very much so, but on occasion I might get angry - and shout extremely loud - when someone does something very stupid and dangerous on my piece of road. Does this count? I definitely leave it to the wrath of a Higher Being, so I suppose this is a Yes.
Envy. “A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.”
This is a No. Can't say more than that.
Pride. “...Let not the mighty man boast of his might"
This is the most solid Yes. I generally believe I am the cleverest, most intelligent person I know. Brain the size of a planet. A view which takes a constant hammering when playing my son at Connect 4 sadly.
Total: 4/7. That's bad. Maybe I should repent and become a monk.
Well, it’s many a long year since I was taught these, but alongside we also learned the corresponding virtues. Humility, generosity, chastity, patience, temperance kindness and diligence.
ReplyDeleteBut also the the opposite extreme. Self loathing, wastefulness prudishness, servility, deficiency, pusillanimity, and workaholism.
Your knowledge of scripture puts me to shame - but then, you came from a Bible believing background so not surprising. However, Sr Mary Pauline used to recommend this to us:
Lead me to pastures Lord, and graze there with me. Do not let my heart lean either to the fight or the left but let your good spirit guide me along the straight path. (St John Damascene, priest and Doctor.