Homily for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? You covet but do not possess. You… envy but you cannot obtain. (James 4:1-2)
There is one word that is lurking in the background throughout all the readings for this Sunday’s liturgy. Envy. It is not a pretty word. In fact, it is a deadly word. Out of the seven deadly sins, envy is number two. Number one is our other ‘frenemy’, pride.
Just as envy lurks in the background of the readings it lurks in the background of our society. We are a society built around envy. And it’s tearing us apart.
And just as envy lurks in the background of the readings and our society, it lurks in the background of our hearts and minds, eating us from the inside.
I’d much rather talk about love, joy, and peace. But there is no true love when there is envy, no abiding joy when there is envy, and no lasting peace when there is envy.
You might not think you succumb to envy, but you probably do. Any time you compare yourself to others, you covet what someone else has, think ill of someone because of their success, grouse when someone is getting something they don’t deserve, or even grouse because they are not getting what they do deserve… the root of those thoughts probably stem from envy.
Let’s take a look at how envy is displayed in the scriptures for today and in our lives, and then I’ll give you the one antidote to this insidious disease.
The first reading from Wisdom (2:12, 17-20) is dripping with envious words. It begins:
The wicked say:
Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
The passage continues with one envious thought after another. It might more appropriately begin, “The envious say:” In today’s lingo, it would continue, “Let us beset the just one, the ‘teacher’s pet’, the prom queen, the woman who rose to the top, the goodie two shoes, the award winner, the food-stamp recipient with a new car… for he or she is obnoxious to us.”
The psalm (Ps 54:3-8) is conversely a plea from a person who is being attacked by the envious.
O God, hear my prayer;
hearken to the words of my mouth.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,
the ruthless seek my life;
A ‘haughty’ man is an envious man, trying to diminish the life of another.
The second reading, the letter to James (Jas 3:16-4:3), says it more directly:
Beloved:
Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,
there is disorder and every foul practice.
Jealousy and selfish ambition are close cousins to envy.
Envy thrives when it’s putting someone down, through gossip or even unkind thoughts. Envy also thrives in ‘selfish ambition’, lifting oneself higher so he or she can look down with derision on others.
James continues:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? You covet but do not possess. You… envy but you cannot obtain; Jas 4:1-2
Envy is insatiable – always looking for more to be envious of, never obtaining that which is coveted.
Envy is one of the themes in the gospel (Mark 9:30-37). This scene is one where the apostles are the most thick-headed and insensitive. On their journey through Galilee with the disciples, Jesus again makes this shocking revelation, that he will be handed over to be crucified and killed. Rather than ponder the implications of this in the tragic statement or probe the mystery that “three days after his death the Son of Man will rise” they talk about who among them is the greatest!
Those are some examples in scripture. Here are some examples in the world around you.
There is an abundance of envy in social media. It might better be called ‘Envy Media’. Facebook envy is commonplace. You see a post. Rather than celebrate someone else’s good fortune, your heart fills with envy. They are doing something you want to do. You might even think less of them because they are showing off. You might even wish them ill-will. There is a widespread presence of envy on Facebook. In a study, one in three people felt worse after visiting Facebook, and became more disappointed with their lives. The reason: Envy.
Politicians exploit envy. Their messaging is constantly pitting one group against another, stirring up envy between the groups. People are getting unemployment benefits when there are jobs. The rich aren’t paying their fair share of taxes.
There are movements like Woke to promote social justice through the power of the state. As noble as the intentions, they will not succeed as long as envy remains at the root of their motivation. If you equalize wealth, for instance, envy will surface in other areas. Physical appearance, intelligence… Envy, if allowed to exist, cannot be satisfied. There is always more to be envious about.
How did Jesus respond to the envy of his followers? He reminded the disciples who they are. Jesus brings a child into their midst.
“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me” We might be tempted to think that Jesus is using the child to illustrate purity and innocence. Rather, he chooses a child because children in Jesus’ time had no status, no rights, no privileges, no protection. They were the lowest of the low on the social hierarchy. The Greek word used for ‘child’ is sometimes translated as slave or servant.
The child is nothing in the eyes of the world but everything in the eyes of God. Jesus is telling the apostles that the ‘one who is sent’ (another definition of ‘apostle’) also needs to be nothing in the eyes of the world but become everything in the eyes of God.
So what is the antidote? Tradition in the church lists seven deadly sins. Tradition also matches up seven virtues to cultivate and conquer each of these deadly sins. For instance, to counter the sin of pride, one needs to cultivate the virtue of humility, for lust, chastity; for greed, charity.
You’ll probably never guess the virtue listed to overcome the sin of envy. It’s gratitude. The antidote to envy is to cultivate the virtue of gratitude. “Give thanks for all things and in all things.” (Ephesians 5:20)
There is an easy way to do this. Each day, write out 10 things you are thankful for. The next day, write out 10 different things.
The crucifixion of Jesus is the most potent example of envy trying to destroy the life of the world. Not coincidently, the reading from Wisdom, written hundreds of years before his crucifixion, describes the scene of his crucifixion dramatically.
The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; Let us see whether his words be true; For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test. Let us condemn him to a shameful death (see Wisdom 2:12-20)
Number one on your gratitude list might be thanksgiving for the sacrifice he made for you.
There is a bonus if you begin to cultivate the virtue of gratitude. All of the other virtues will find this attractive, and suddenly you’ll find yourself living a more virtuous life. Saint Catherine of Sienna says it this way:
“The soul disposing herself [to one virtue] rather than to other virtues, draws to herself all the other virtues, which are all bound together in the affection of love.” (Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Sienna, 1370/1907 by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. p. 22)
If, for example, you cultivate gratitude, you will as a result find yourself being more patient, kind, and generous in addition to being more thankful.
Start a gratitude journal this week. Purge yourself of envious thoughts. Become more virtuous. Experience true love, abiding joy, lasting peace.
An excellent reflection. In day society needs to help others. Love thy neighbor as thyself.