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You
may have wondered when this series began how we were going to fit
the seven deadly sins into the six weeks of Lent. Well, this week
we are looking at two related sins - GREED and LUST. Here we enter
the complex world of desire.
We
begin with a quote from St Paul:
Not that I complain of being in need; for I have learned, in whatever
state I am, to be content. I know what it is to have little, and
I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I
have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of
having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through
him who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:11-13]
A lot
is said about how to live in a world of need. We exhort people to
give to charities and to act with justice on behalf of the world's
poor. But what about living in a world of plenty? Those of us privileged
to live in a Western society are surrounded by a huge array of products
and gadgets, cars and clothes. Shopping has become, not a necessity,
but a leisure activity. And luring us in, shops and businesses are
increasingly using sex to advertise their wares.
In the midst of all this, we need to pose a question: 'Should all
my desires be met?'
The
great Indian liberator, Mohandas Gandhi famously said: The world
has enough to meet everyone's need, but not everyone's greed.' But
that is the problem with living in a consumer society. It seduces
us into thinking that the point of the world is to satisfy every
desire, our own and others. It encourages us to believe that unless
our every desire is fulfilled, we will not be whole people. When
does desire turn to greed or lust?
The
Jewish philosopher, Martin Buber, wrote at the beginning of the
20th century about the two types of relationships that are possible
for human beings.
The first is the 'I-It' relationship - a functional, transactional
relationship that we have with, say, a chair or a table. The table
is there to be used and so we use it without any thought for its
feelings.
Then there is the 'I-You' relationship, one where we engage with
another living being. An 'I-You' relationship offers the potential
of love, respect, mutuality. For Buber, he became very concerned
that too many human relationships were of the 'I-It' variety, where
people were used and abused by others.
Desire
becomes greed or lust when the 'I-You' relationship is lost. When
the desire to meet personal need becomes all consuming and the needs
of others are forgotten, greed is the result. When the desire to
be sexually satisfied leads to treating sexual partners as objects
to be used and cast aside, lust is the product.
The
answer to both of these sins lies in community, building relationships
and ensuring that all are included. George Herbert reminds us of
that community's foundation:
Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lacked anything.
"A guest," I answered "worthy to be here";
Love said "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on Thee."
Love took my hand, and smiling did reply
"Who made the eyes but I?"
"Truth, Lord; but I have marred them: let my shame
Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.
Rev
Sam McBratney
Week one: wilderness
Week two: sloth
Week three: envy
Week four: anger
Week five: greed
and lust
Week six: pride
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