Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter (Mass readings): The destructive effect of envy and jealousy is well illustrated in our first reading—resulting not only in the expulsion of Paul and Barnabas, but also in the suppressing of the Good News. Few, if any of us, are completely free of envy and jealousy whereby we not only desire what someone else has, but resent their possessing it. This is in contrast to a more positive envy or jealousy whereby we both desire what someone else possesses and yet rejoice that that person possesses it. Indeed, there is even a holy envy by which we long for the holiness or virtue that another possesses but instead of resenting that person we allow his or her holiness to inspire and motivate us to follow their example. Getting in touch with the presence of destructive jealousy and envy within us is never pleasant, and yet when we witness the toll it can take on our lives and those of others, we realize how essential identifying this envy is to inner healing and an authentic Christian life.
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