BEWARE OF JEALOUSY

BEWARE OF JEALOUSY

 

 When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much... – Genesis 37:4

 

When we were young, my cousins would stay with us during summer vacations. I looked forward to it because I only had one sibling and having additional playmates was fun.

But once, one of my cousins and I had a fight. I couldn’t remember what we fought about but I knew then that he was at fault. However, my grandmother sided with him.

I resented that because every time my cousins would commit a mistake, Lola would always side with them. Her reason? They were less fortunate so she pitied them. I couldn’t accept her reason so I was furious at my cousins.

Joseph’s brothers became jealous of him because of the special favor that their father showed him. Consequently, they hated him to the point that they were willing to kill him. Jealousy can lead to serious sins and can blind us from doing what is right. We need to be always on guard against our negative emotions and not allow them to rule us. Judith Concepcion (svp_jmc@yahoo.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Check your heart. Are you keeping score of what others have?

 

Lord Jesus, purify my heart. Prune me from whatever displeases You.

Goodness Suffers Abuse

 

More than a parable, Bible scholars say that today’s Gospel is an allegory about the Passion of Jesus as Messiah. The vineyard owner is Yahweh; the vineyard is Israel as God’s chosen people. The tenants were the Jewish religious leaders; the servants sent by the land owner were the prophets who came to Israel in Yahweh’s name. The only son is Jesus, the One Begotten of Yahweh, whom the Jewish leaders arrested and crucified on Calvary which was located outside the walls of the Holy City.

Beyond the richness of meanings as regards the details of the story, we are struck by one big realization: God’s initiative to be infinitely good is met by ungratefulness and abuse by human beings. Thankfulness seems unnatural; selfishness is “second nature” for broken humanity. In this light, we should understand why goodness to others is not repaid by the other person’s goodness but oftentimes, by abuse. Jesus Himself stated in one part of the Gospels: “When the world hates you, realize that it hated me before you.”

Now we should be spiritually mature to take on these realities: unpaid financial debts by persons whom we tried to bail out from tight situations, indifference by persons whom we served in their moments of weakness and need, aloofness of some co-workers with whom we had some good human relations when they were our co-equal. Reading today’s Gospel should enable us to say with godly attitude in the face of human abuse: so what else is new?

Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

Go back to some real-life situations when you honestly felt short-changed by other’s lack of gratitude, indifference and abusive attitude in the face of your sincere efforts to help and serve. Pray to God for the healing that you need in these experiences.

 

It is not easy to receive ingratitude for the good that I do. May this make me more grateful for all the benefits You have given me, Lord.

 

St. Piran, pray for us.