Last weekend our priest gave a homily challenging us to focus on the virtue that is the opposite of the sin(s) we commit most. I thought it was a highly creative way of encouraging some deep self-reflection with sound solutions for the problem of sin.
Not coincidentally, a couple of days later, I happened upon a list of the Seven Deadly Sins and the Holy Virtues’ counterparts.
Pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lust are the sins. The virtues that combat these sins are humility, kindness, patience, diligence, temperance, abstinence, and chastity.
Pride
A quick google search led to at least thirteen bible verses talking about pride. Some would say it is the deadliest of the Seven Deadly Sins. The Book of Proverbs in particular has much to say in warning against pride. Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil; Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.”
Humility
Arguably, today’s gospel is a message about humility. Humility; the opposite of pride. What better time in the liturgical year than now, to focus on being humble. Truly, being humble and not just having false piety. In particular, through almsgiving we can imitate Jesus. It is more than just giving money to an organization and feeling good about it. It is really caring for people. People who maybe you normally wouldn’t spend time with or give much attention to. It is a real act of charity that comes from your heart, not just your wallet. The Hebrew word for almsgiving is “tzedakah,” and it means righteousness.
Further, almsgiving is not just about money and the poor. People are in need spiritually and emotionally all around us.
Tobit 12:9-10 says, “For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity and of righteousness will have fulness of life, but those who commit sin are enemies of their own lives.”
Below is a prayer a friend sent, and it sums up the homily I mentioned above.
Lenten Prayer from St. Ephrem the Syrian:
“O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of laziness, despair, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of sobriety, humility, patience and love to your servant. Yes, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother, for you are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
Sit and reflect on which virtue(s) you should really focus on this Lent. Then, put it in action. As the psalm for today says, “To the upright I will show the saving power of God.”
Amen.
