Back when you were a kid or an adolescent in school, or now as an adult in the workplace or neighborhood, you have probably experienced being despised, hated, or persecuted by people even though you didn’t do anything wrong to them, and you even did good things for them. Those who persecute you might have their own motives, but the topmost reason is that they have envy toward you. Perhaps you’re good-looking, a better achiever, or you have a happy family, a great job, dating a good man or woman, or have anything good and new in your life.
Envy is one of the seven capital sins. One who commits it has ill wishes and thoughts for the person he’s envious of. Sometimes, he’d even do immoral and evil things to get what the other person has. When people hate you for no reason, it’s obvious that they envy what you are or what you have.
Hidden envy
A dangerous form of it is when it’s your own friends or relatives who are envious of you. When their envy toward you is obvious, it causes a rift on your relationship. But what makes it more dangerous is when you are not aware of it, when it’s hidden. Sometimes, you trust your friends or relatives too much that you don’t suspect them of any envy or ill-wishing toward you. But if you look really closely and carefully into how they relate to you, you’ll see how they give you one bad advice or another, how they influence you to make bad choices. From small, practical things to bigger life matters, you may think that they want what’s good for you, when they actually nudge you to what’s worse.
Jesus suffered too from the envy of others
Photo credit: Painting by James Tissot
In the Gospel for this day, first Friday of the Month of August, Jesus came back to His native place to teach. But as he preached, they said,
“Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?”
– Matthew 13:54-56
Clearly, these people were no strangers to Him. In fact, they knew Him well; Jesus was their own. These were the very people who we would expect to welcome and speak well of Him. Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.”
-Matthew 13:57
Like us, Jesus went through persecutions because of the sin of envy, which people had for Him. Those men couldn’t accept in themselves that this poor man, the humble Son of Joseph and Mary, who used to live in that same neighborhood, was doing great holy things. Also, they couldn’t believe His amazing wisdom and unparalleled understanding… and that He’s simply better than them. Jesus must have felt very hurt that He received such ill-treatment from the very people who should have supported and believed in Him. Just as we get hurt more when it’s our own friends and relatives themselves who do not welcome us, speak ill of us, envy us.
Saint John Vianney and the envy toward him
Saint John Vianney, popularly known as “Curé d’Ars,” is the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. We remember him on this day, his feast day. This French priest had so much love and compassion for the poor that he did so many mortifications just for them, like giving away most of his food and clothes, and only ate just to ward off starvation. Priests and lay people always begged him to give homilies in their parishes, and to give them the Sacrament of Penance, which he never refused. All week, he barely rested from his hectic schedule, and for many years, he would stay in the confession booth for 16-18 hours a day just to hear people’s Confession. People from various parts of the country traveled to receive Sacraments from him because they recognized his deep holiness.
However, like Jesus, he did not escape the envy and jealousy of his colleagues and peers. Many Catholic Saints suffered similarly. The envious ‘friends’ of Saint John Vianney knew that he came from a poor family, and used to be a ‘slow’ student in his earlier years. But when he became a priest, he turned out to be among the holiest people living that time. Others gravely envied that.
We can see in the following account how envy can turn into a ‘deadly’ sin:
“Now, great graces in the lives of holy persons are never bestowed without great trials, and the good cure was no exception to this rule. During the ten years of his ministry he had suffered from suspicion, distrust and calumny. His enemies had criticised his actions and had held him up to derision. He had even been threatened with violence. Among those who attacked him were some of his own colleagues in the ministry, who were greatly angered because their parishioners flocked in numbers to Ars to ask advice and counsel of one whom they had called the inexperienced and ignorant priest. Of course Father Vianney’s own behavior gave no little reason for their disparaging opinion of him, for, in his humility, he had several times declared himself to be a worthless and incapable servant of God, an opinion which undoubtedly he sincerely held.
These aspersions from his colleagues were disseminated among the people, so that many of the faithful, influenced by the mistaken opinion of their spiritual leaders, took upon themselves the liberty of defaming their pastor. Some went further and wrote and left at his door notice containing coarse and dishonorable remarks. To such an extent had these ideas progressed that some persons attributed the furrows with which penitential works had seamed the brow of the humble priest to an immoral mode living.”
Let me remind you my brothers and sisters in Christ that as you improve on your holiness, many people will despise and hate you. Catholics, especially, always suffer persecutions. But keep Jesus in mind, and recall Saint John Vianney who suffered much from the sins of others, including envy. People, and the unclean spirits of the Devil that hold them, hate it when they see you live a holy life that is pleasing to God. So it’s not uncommon to suffer persecutions when we try as much to live a blameless life, and the graces of God are bestowed upon us.
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
– Romans 8:28-31
Dealing with the envy of others
We can simply avoid those people who envy us. Jesus kept His actions to a minimum and left,
“And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.”
– Matthew 13:58
We can’t control what others do to us. But we can limit what we share with them. When they are around you, as much as possible, don’t talk with them about the good things and achievements you have, like your education, job, possessions, and your personal life, like avoiding telling them about the person you’re dating, or your spouse and kids. You just need to adjust yourself around these envious persons, for them to refrain wishing you ill and thinking of evil thoughts about you and what you have. Giving yourself a little more privacy truly helps you and prevents others to commit the sin of envy.
Following the example of Saint John Vianney, this is how he handled the envy of others:
“With touching patience and resignation Father Vianney bore those years of bitterness. His zeal never relaxed for a day, and the interior agony which he suffered was not observable in any of his pastoral duties. At that time he frequently repeated those memorable and beautiful words: “We can do more for God when we perform our duties faithfully, with interior gladness and a certain relish in fulfilling them.”
Like him, we need to continue the good things that we do, and never keep away from following God’s will for us, by observing His Commandments, and trusting in Him that what He always has for us is according to His love, justice, and mercy.
Above all, we must pray. This is our greatest invisible and silent armor; and even our holy defense with God’s grace. Pray for protection against ill intentions of those who deliberately and secretly envy us. Constantly ask for the intercession of Saints and Angels that we may be protected from the physical and spiritual consequences arising from others’ envy.
Readings for the Day:
Lv 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37, Ps 81:3-4, 5-6, 10-11 ab, 1 Pt 1:25, Mt 13:54-58
Source:
The Life of Saint John Vianney, The Cure of Ars. Joseph Schaefer, 1911, New York, US.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
St. John Vianney, pray for us!
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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