Slave to Sin - A Lenten Minute for Mar. 16

"Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin." - John 8:34

Ever notice that the seven deadly sins - pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth - begin not as a sin but as a temptation, an attitude of the heart. It is only when we act upon them that they become "deadly" to us - destroying our relationship with God and with each other.  Worse, the momentary pleasure of the sin quickly fades, and we're left with a hunger that needs to be fed again.  And the more we give into them, even if we repent and try to change our ways, the easier it is to give into them the next time.  Eventually, we can become blind to them.  We may think that we can control our sins without outside help.  But slaves cannot free themselves.  It requires outside intervention.  Fortunately, God is there for us, and with His help, we can battle the temptations that we face daily.  But we have to ask.  During this Lent, have you availed yourself of the opportunities to call upon God's help by going to confession?