It might appear that those who offer their services to voluntary organizations, religious life, or Non-Governmental Organizations do so with altruistic motives. But today’s readings (1 John 5:14‑21 and John 3:22-30) are a warning that the devil is smart and subtle and is always willing to corrupt our good deeds. He loves to tempt people who are doing good things to develop envy, as well. This envy frequently manifests itself by a desire to seek forms of personal gain such as recognition and acknowledgement.
Envy is a very dangerous sin. It begins small, then it leads to insecurity, backbiting, slander, competition, sabotage and might even lead to murder. This is why St. John warns us, “Children, be on your guard against false gods.” Envy is instigated by the Evil One through comparison and greed. We are provoked to jealousy directly or indirectly. Our parents and our friends will plant the thought in us by suggesting to us that others are better, doing well, have been promoted or have received some rewards. If we are not careful, we will allow such thoughts to dwell in us and prompt us to desire them as well.
This was the case of the disciples of John the Baptist. They felt insecure when they saw many going to Jesus for baptism instead of going to their master. They went to tell John, “Rabbi, the man who was with you on the far side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore witness, is baptizing now; and everyone is going to him.” They were hoping to stir up John so that he would either stop Jesus or work harder to win back his audience. Isn’t this how envy always begins? We were quite happy until someone tells us that our colleague or neighbor has received much more than us. Envy makes us lose our contentment and God’s peace.
But John the Baptist was not a man that could easily be unsettled or lose his peace of mind. This was because he was focused on his mission. He knew his identity and he knew himself. He did not desire to be someone other than himself. He was very contented with the blessings that God gave to him, the situation he was placed in, and the mission given to him. He did not desire to do anything other than to be true to himself, realize his potential in being the forerunner of the Messiah, and to make Him known.
John the Baptist understood the art of contentment and fulfillment. Happiness in life for John was simply to be the person the Lord had created him to be and to do what he had been created to do in life. He was contented to be the friend of the bridegroom. He said, “The bride is only for the bridegroom; and yet the bridegroom’s friend, who stands there and listens, is glad when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This same joy I feel, and now it is complete. He must grow greater, I must grow smaller.” His only joy was to make the bridegroom loved and be united with His bride. He saw his role and mission as bringing people to the Lord. Once that was done, he was happy. He did not feel the need for people to worship him or glorify him. His joy was to be of service to the Lord. His great joy was to know that His beloved was loved by so many people.
Indeed, the measure of success for John the Baptist was not how many came to him but how many were going to Jesus. His mission and his goal were to put himself out of circulation. His only desire was to lead all to the Messiah. When the time came for the Messiah, John faded out of the scene. He did everything for the glory of God and for the sake of Jesus. It was never about himself.
But many of us are not willing to play second fiddle. We want to be the concert master. We want to be the leader. We want to make important decisions in an organization. We want the world to know who we are and our credentials. We want respect and to walk with the influential people. We want to be known to be the best, the most efficient, the most famous. So we are not willing to take second place in any function. And if we are not elected, we either resign our position or adopt a non-cooperative stance or even a hostile position. We seek to put down the leader, ensure that he fails so that we can take over the leadership. When our leader proposes ideas and plans, we find reasons to take them down and thwart all initiatives. We cannot rejoice with our leaders when they are acknowledged. Indeed, envy and jealousy consume our hearts and blind our eyes.
When that happens, we know that we are serving the wrong master. We need to pray and discern God’s will to find happiness in life. St. John reminds us that whenever we pray, we must align our will to God’s will if the petition is to be answered. He wrote, “We are quite confident that if we ask the Son of God for anything, and it is in accordance with his will, he will hear us; and, knowing that whatever we may ask, he hears us, we know that we have been granted what we ask of him.” Indeed, if we are given positions in life, wealth, power, influence or talents, it is because God has a task for us to do. They are not given to make us feel great, proud and egoistic. He will only bless us with those gifts that He needs us to use to bless others.
This is what St James advised us. “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.” (James 3:13-18)
If we are jealous, then we must go to God for forgiveness. “If anybody sees his brother commit a sin that is not a deadly sin, he has only to pray, and God will give life to the sinner. Not so for those who commit a deadly sin; for there is a sin that is death, and I will not say that you must pray about that.” To be saved, we must stop it before it grows to be deadly. If we do not pay attention to our venial sins, which include jealousy, it will soon become a big sin of envy that leads to animosity, anger, resentment, unscrupulous competition and even violence. All sins begin small but when we do not deal with them at their roots when they are just budding, they will become deadly. This was the case of Saul’s jealousy over David’s success in military battles and popularity. It grew and grew. His envy consumed him, and he ended up attempting to take away the life of David because of his insecurity and low self-esteem.
What we need to do is to put on the Spirit of Christ. St John wrote, “We know that anyone who has been begotten by God does not sin, because the begotten Son of God protects him, and the Evil One cannot touch him. We know, too, that the Son of God has come, and has given us the power to know the true God. We are in the true God, as we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.” If we have Jesus in our hearts, and if we allow the Lord to dwell in us, and fill us with His Spirit, then we will have the power to avoid sin because like John the Baptist who enjoyed intimacy with the Bridegroom, we would only want the best for the Lord. So, too, when Jesus lives in us in His Spirit, we will likewise live out His life in us. Like the Israelites, to know that we are the Lord’s delight as Jesus was to His Father, is sufficient to make us do everything for His glory and His love. As said in today’s Psalm, Psalm 149, “Let Israel rejoice in its Maker, let Zion’s sons exult in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people. He crowns the poor with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, shout for joy and take their rest.”
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!