Deacon Tom Writes,
“Envious Hearts”
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Both Moses and St. Luke shed some light about a serious sin that we all experience from time to time, the sin of envy. In the spiritual realm this is such an insidious offense that it ranks as one of the seven deadly sins so named because they tend to attract one to a deepening cycle of sin. We hear today how Moses responds to a complaint brought to him by two of his tribesmen. What bothered them was that several others of their group were prophesying even though they had not been in their company when they received the “spirit. Moses sensed that the demonic spirit of envy or jealousy was at work with those who lodged the complaint. Instead of chastising the two who had received the gift of prophesy while away from camp, he instead responds, “Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"
In a similar way, the Apostles see that someone not in their group is casting out demons and report that to Jesus. Jesus wisely cautions His disciples “Do not prevent him.” Jesus knows that any good work done in His name will produce good fruit.
Very often our fragile human nature shows itself in the ugliest of ways. In these two incidents from Sacred Scripture, we notice how one group of individuals is offended because others appear to have gotten something that they did not deserve. In the first reading the Spirit came to rest on two men who left camp and the “crowd” is upset with this; in the gospel a stranger was empowered to cast out demons without being an Apostle and again the “crowd” of disciples are offended. Envy is at work in both these events. In both instance the intention of those who complain is to get someone – Moses or Jesus – to issue a cease-and-desist order to the perceived antagonist. Rather than get their way, our teachers today hold a class that remains applicable for us today.
Our sequential, linear, humanly limited minds constantly seek to put God in a box. We want to control God. We want Him to be predictable and to be fair; fair, that is, as we perceive fair to be. But God is above all our thinking and our wildest imagination. God’s ways are simply beyond us and we need to grow into that realization.
God is at work all around us, in all faiths, in all peoples, in all circumstances. God’s Spirit works in the hearts of the faithful everywhere. God is the reality through which we live, and move, and have our being. It is not jealousy that should fill our hearts when we see good being done, but rather a deep sense of awe at the wonders God is unfolding minute-by-minute, day-by-day all around us. Even by those who look, act, believe, and worship differently than we do. Better than keeping a jealous eye on what others appear to be doing is for us to act like one on whom God’s spirit has been bestowed. Why? Because it has been!
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Please Visit www.deaconspod.com and listen in as the three deacons engage in a contemporary conversation exploring the treasures our Catholic faith has to offer to those on the threshold, those thinking of joining our Catholic Community or walking away from it.
OTHER RESOURCE
Recommended Reading: Thoughts Matter by Sr Mary Margaret Funk In this highly regarded series that includes Tools Matter, Humility Matters, Lectio Matters and Discernment Matters, Sr. Meg offers the foundational theories and practices of the early monastic way of life while pointing out why and how this inner work is as fresh and necessary today as ever.
Recommended YouTube Video: The Heart of Centering Prayer: Part 4 of 4 by Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault who brings insightful teaching on being silent in the presence of the Divine
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