In Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, which I did not read in preparation for this sermon, the main character, Pierre, is forced to face himself and make an honest analysis of his life. What he concludes is something I hear often from reluctant confessors. "Yes, Lord, I have sinned, but I have several excellent excuses."

I plan to focus our attention this Lenten Season to something the Church calls "The Seven Deadly Sins" - Pride, Envy, Anger, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, and Lust. Even a casual listener will likely react by asking, what's so deadly about these seven? Compared to murder, rape, and theft, anger, lust, and greed seem rather tame. Tell me one war that has been pursued out of sloth! The seven deadly sins are not listed for rogues; they are warnings for the righteous-church people …