Sixth Monday of Ordinary Time

The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen. So the LORD said to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen. If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.” Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out in the field.” When they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Envy is such a difficult sin to avoid. This is because it comes in many subtle forms. It can start out small, but as it burrows into our heart it grows, consuming our ability to love others and replacing it with a hollow hatred that can cause us to do terrible things to those we envy. However, God will always warn us, through our consciences, if we are straying into the realm of envy or sin. He gives us every support and encourages us to do better so we can hold our heads up high while not looking with evil upon others. The only person who can make us envious is ourselves. We have the power to determine who we love and who we hate and it is no one else’s fault when we let hatred seep into our souls. Instead of dwelling on what others have or the praises they are receiving, we should instead focus on all the good things God has given us and on our responsibilities and how we can do better. We are not called to measure ourselves against each other, but rather to celebrate each other’s successes and do God’s Will to the best of our ability.

Are we envious of someone else? If so, then how can we learn to love them? What can we do to open our hearts to the successes of others and celebrate them as if they were our own?

O Lord, help us to hold our heads up high. Not out of pride, but out of a knowledge that we are doing your will.

Amen.