This Sunday we hear from the book of James, where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there’s disorder and every foul practice. I think it is good for us to take a moment and think about jealousy in our own lives. What is jealousy? To be jealous is to show envy towards someone for their achievements or for what they have or for who they are. Like James says when this exists there is disorder in our lives. The real question is how can we re-order this disorder?
The answer lies in the following sentence. It is in the wisdom from above, the wisdom from God, the wisdom of God that will remind us of how good God is in our lives. When we remember like the Psalmist in Psalm 54 that the Lord upholds my life, that the Lord is my helper, that the Lord sustains my life, that transforms everything.
Whenever we look to someone and our hearts are filled with jealousy, all we have to do is simply turn to God and say thank you. Thank you Lord. Because ultimately it is the Lord who gives gifts to people, it is the Lord that blesses his people with goodness and achievements and makes them who they are.
Yes, when God is no longer a part of the story of our lives, things will get disordered. But when we invite God into our lives, we remember who God is and how God blesses one another. So the next time you experience jealousy For another in your life , Thank the Lord. Because the Lord blesses those around us and don’t forget the Lord blesses you too.
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy
P.S. See you Sunday afternoon at 2:00 at Boettler Park!
