Intro to Chapter 14: The Seven Deadly Sins.
Thomas Aquinas lists seven deadly sins: pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. It may be more accurate to think of them as dispositions toward sinning rather than sins in themselves. They are tendencies in our character that predispose us to sin.
It is our actions that strengthen or weaken these tendencies. Give in to temptation, and the disposition to sin is stronger. Resist, and the disposition is weaker. What we do in little things may strengthen our pride or our anger or our lust until it breaks out in sin that is spectacular and horrible.
At the dinner party given by Herod Antipas, indulgence in gluttony and lust by a man already a slave to pride led to one of the most infamous murders in history.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:36 am
I wish to commend you for the captivating novel series you are sharing. I have read a number of fictional works on the life of Christ, but nothing quite like this. I love your perspective and the vibrancy that you’ve colored this story with. Eagerly awaiting chapter 14!