Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2; Psalm 124; Matthew 2:13-18
Amid our Christmas joy, the Church directs our minds to the reality of our world. A world steeped in evil and darkness. Today, we recall that gloomy event in human history when one man out of jealousy massacred some innocent children. Herod could not bear the existence of another king whether a baby or an adult, he was ready to go to any length to eliminate anyone who threatened his hegemony. In a morbid search for the baby Jesus, he ordered the killing of innocent infants. Even at that, he could not achieve his malicious aim.
Today, let us reflect on the evil of jealousy.
A story was told of two shopkeepers who were bitter rivals. Their stores were direct across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival. One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, “I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?” The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, “Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!”
There is a lot to be said on this topic, but I will just keep it simple and surrender to the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts.
Jealousy is the fear or anxiety that something which we possess will be taken away by another person, something like our reputation, people’s admiration, our possession, someone we love, our position, our monotony of attention and affection.
The anger that someone who seems more capable, attractive and successful will eclipse our relevance and will be preferred to us.
Jealousy ruins our relationships with God and others, it creates destructive behaviours as seen in Herod, we overreact, it hinders our reasoning, beclouds our judgment, it takes away our peace and robs us of joy, it opposes our spiritual growth, it inhibits grace in our lives, it closes our eyes to the truth, corrupts our thoughts and pushes us to initiate unnecessary battles, conflicts and quarrels.
The first reading talks about living in darkness. When we allow jealousy to dictate our thoughts and actions, we live in darkness.
The inclination to be jealous is in every one of us in different degrees.
Let us confess it to Jesus today, let us pray to the Lord to dispel every tendency to be jealous, self-centered and to see life as a competition. May we ask the Lord to give us a right spirit, the spirit of humility, true charity and complete selflessness.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on December 28, 2020
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