The
harvest Bazaar was a huge success and I will write about it more next week.
Do
you rejoice in the good that others do? Jesus reprimands his disciples for
their jealousy and suspicion. They were upset that someone who was not of their
company was performing a good work in the name of Jesus. They even
"forbade" the man "because he was not following us". Jesus'
reply is filled with wisdom: "No one who does a mighty work in my name
will be able soon after to speak evil of me." Are we not like the
disciples when we get upset at the good deeds of others who seem to shine more
than us? Paul says that "love is not jealous... but rejoices in the
right".
Envy
and jealousy, its counterpart, are sinful because they lead us to sorrow over
what should make us rejoice - namely, our neighbor's good. The reason we may
grieve over another's good is that somehow we see that good as lessening our
own value or excellence. Envy forms when we believe that the other person's
advantage or possession diminishes or brings disgrace on us. Envy is contrary
to love. Both the object of love and the object of envy is our neighbor's good,
but by contrary movements, since love rejoices in our neighbor's good, while envy
grieves over it.
How
can we overcome envy? The Holy Spirit purifies our heart and frees us from our
disordered passions, such as envy, jealously, greed, and bitterness. God's love
is a generous and selfless love which is wholly oriented towards our good. The
love that God places in our hearts seeks the highest good of our neighbor.
God's love purifies and frees us from all envy and jealousy - and it compels us
to give generously, especially to those who lack what they need.
Jesus
warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that they must set no
stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example
that might lead another to sin. The Greek word for temptation (scandalon) is
exactly the same as the English word scandal. The original meaning of scandal
is a trap or a stumbling block which causes one to trip and fall. The Jews held
that it was an unforgivable sin to teach another to sin. If we teach another to
sin, he or she in turn may teach still another, until a train of sin is set in
motion with no foreseeable end. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to
the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Do you set a good
example for others to follow, especially the young? (Servants of the Word)
I
hope you have a good week!
Fr. Phil
