HOMILY OF WEDNESDAY 7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: SHUN ENVY AND JEALOUSY, TOMORROW IS REAL!
BY: Fr. Charles Awe
JAMES 4:13-17, MARK 9:38-40
“consider that you do not know what will be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a mist that appears for a brief time, and afterwards will vanish away. So what you ought to say is: “If the Lord wills,” or, “If we live,” we will do this or that.” Hence, in everything we do, let us always keep in mind that tomorrow is real and it’s a mystery yet unknown! For those of us mismanaging our power, seeking the downfall of others and for those who engage in pathetic things, today maybe ours but tomorrow may not be ours.
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Do we 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 spiritual 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” (1 Cor. 13:4,6).
Envy and jealousy, its counterpart, are sinful because they lead us to sorrow over what should make us rejoice — namely, our neighbour’s good. The reason we may grieve over our 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 neighbour’s good, but by contrary movements, since love rejoices in our neighbour’s good, while envy grieves over it. How can we overcome envy? With the love that God puts into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). This love seeks the highest good of our neighbour. Let us ask the Lord to fill us with the fire of his purifying love that we may always rejoice in the good of others, even in those we find disagreeable.
Reflection: “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you are older, you will extend your hands, and another shall gird you and lead you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18)
PRAYER: Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may radiate the joy of the gospel to others. May your light and truth shine through us that others may find new life and freedom from sin and the corruption of evil. Amen
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