Sin

Sin according to Hinduism is an intentional transgression of diving law. It does not see sin as a crime against God, but as an act against the moral order and one’s own self. The Buddhists believe that the root of human suffering is not sin, but our confusion about ego. Judaism teaches that sin is an act, and not a state of being. Islam teaches that sin is anything that goes against the will of Allah. Catechism of the Catholic Church No.1849 teaches us that Sin is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It has been defined as an utterance, a deed or a desire contrary to the eternal law.
The works of the flesh in the first reading are 15 or more with a volume of sub headings. In contrast, the fruits of the Spirit are nine and most of them are interchangeable. This letter to the Galatians was written around 54 AD and certainly we can imagine the list on the works of the flesh grown longer and longer, whereas the fruits of the Spirit are still crucified in church walls and traditional structures of the Catholic Church.
The only reason for this appalling situation is that we the faithful are seldom guided by the Holy Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are viewed as high moral standards, thus be kept aloof, rather than internalizing them in our Christian living. These gifts are given to us freely by God so that we show the people around us what they mean and signify.
All these gifts of the Holy Spirit possess the fullness of God’s grace in them, thus all the nine are given equal importance. Though ‘Love’ is the base of Christianity, ‘joy’, ‘peace’ and other gifts share the collective spirituality of a Christian in making him or her well equipped, ready to be sent as a missionary to take the Message of God to people. Undoubtedly, these are reflections of the life of Christ. When we say that we are people of love, joy, peace etc, we actually meang, we are people of God.