During these next several weeks of Lent, we will examine these Seven Deadly Sins. We will wrestle with the meaning of sin in the world. We will struggle to more deeply understand the power of sin, how sin is a part of us, what on-going impact sin has upon us, and our families and our community and our relationship with God. It is not easy to preach on sin, and I know it is not easy to hear sin preached on. Far too often preachers start scolding and moralizing, hearers are made to feel bad without being gently led to repentance, to change.
Some preachers seem to get a kick out of preaching about sin.
There was a commercial out a couple of years ago for Tropicana Fruit Juice. Maybe you remember it. That's really the way the world sees the Church when we deal with the issue of sin. Closed minded people who look down on the actions of others and throw barbs. This is not what's going to take place over the next five weeks.