25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) - 24 September
24th September 2023
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) - 24 September
“It is ever thus, the more you envy your brother, the greater good you confer upon him. God, Who sees all, takes the cause of the innocent in hand and, irritated by the injury you inflict, deigns to raise up him whom you wish to lower and will punish you to the full extent of your crime.” - St John Chrysostom
A reflection on today's Gospel reading by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen:
"Envy is sadness at another’s good, and joy at another’s evil. What rust is to iron, what moths are to wool, what termites are to wood, that envy is to the soul: the assassination of brotherly love.
"We here touch on that sinful envy, which is a wilful grieving at another’s good, either spiritual or temporal, for the reason that it seems to diminish our own good. The honour paid to another is regarded by the envious man as a reflected disgrace on himself, and he is sad in consequence. Envy manifests itself in discord, hatred, malicious joy, backbiting, detraction, imputing of evil motives, jealousy, and calumny.
"Our Lord was unceasing in His preaching against envy. To those who were envious of the mercy extended to lost sheep, He pictured the angels of Heaven rejoicing more at the one sinner doing penance than at the ninety-nine just who needed not penance.
"Envy is the source of our wrong judgements about others.
"To be envious of others is to say: ‘You have stolen that which is mine.’
"Envy thus becomes the denial of all justice and love.
"The only way to overcome envy is, like the thief on the right [of Christ on the cross], to show pity. As Christians in good faith, we are all members of the Mystical Body of Christ and should therefore love one another as Christ has loved us.
"If our arm suffers an injury, our whole body feels the pain. In like manner, if the Church in any part of the world suffers martyrdom, we should feel pity toward it as part of our body, and that pity should express itself in prayer and good works. Pity should be extended not only to those outside the Church who are living as if the earth never bore a Cross but also to the enemies of the Church who would destroy even the shadow of the Cross. God is their judge, not we.
"And as potential brothers of Christ, sons of a Heavenly Father and children of Mary, they must be worth our pity since they were worth the Saviour’s Blood. Unfortunately, there are some who blame the Church for receiving great sinners into the Church on their deathbeds.
"A few years ago, one who was generally believed to be a racketeer and murderer met death at the hands of his fellow criminals. A few minutes before his death, he asked to be received into the Church, was baptised, received First Communion, and was anointed and given the last blessing. Some who should have known better protested against the Church. Imagine! Envy at the salvation of a soul!
"Why not rather rejoice in God’s mercy, for, after all, did he not belong to the same profession as the thief on the right – and why should not Our Lord be just as eager to save twentieth-century thieves as first-century thieves? They both have souls. It would seem that sinful envy of the salvation of a thief is a greater sin than thievery.
"One thief was saved: therefore, let no one despair. One thief was lost: therefore, let no one presume. Have pity, then, on the miserable, and divine mercy will be the reward for your pity.
"One day a woman went to the saintly Father John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, in France, and said: ‘My husband has not been to the sacraments or to Mass for years. He has been unfaithful, wicked, and unjust. He has just fallen from a bridge and drowned – a double death of body and soul.’ The Curé answered: ‘Madam, there is a short distance between the bridge and the water, and it is that distance which forbids you to judge.’
"There was just that distance between the two crosses that saved the penitent thief. If the thief on the right had been self-righteous, he would have looked down on Jesus and lost his soul. But because he was conscious of his own sin, he left room for divine pardon.
"And the answer of the Redeemer to his request proves that to the merciful, love is blind – for if we love God and our neighbour, who may even be our enemy, Divine Love will go blind, as it did for the thief on the right. Christ will no longer be able to see our faults, and blindness will be for us the dawn of the vision of Love."
(The Cries of Jesus from the Cross)
Prayer to Overcome Envy
Most Generous and Loving Father, You bestow Your blessings upon all in superabundance. When I witness the ways that others are blessed by You, help me to foster a sincere gratitude for all that they have received. Help me to truly rejoice in the many ways You bless all Your people. Free me from envy, dear Lord. Substitute the negativity and cruelty within my heart with Your peace and love, and gentle kindness. Amen. 💐🙏💖
Food for thought
You must beware of disputing about matters above your understanding, or about the hidden judgements of God. Do not wonder why one man is apparently forsaken by God, while another receives an abundance of His grace; why this person has so much trouble and the other is so greatly advanced. These things surpass our comprehension and no mere human discourse can explain the divine judgements. When the devil suggests questions to you, or curious people inquire about them, simply reply in the words of the Prophet: 'You are righteous, O Lord, and Your judgements are right' (Ps 119:137). Therefore, be careful of curiosity concerning matters beyond your understanding. Your principal occupation and aim should be that you may be found - even though you may be the least - in the kingdom of God.