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Holy Cross Abbey

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Saturday of the 4th Week of Easter

May 9, 2020 by Fr Joseph

The spiritual masters warn us that overcoming some of the vices involves a twofold process—first the physical, tangible, and worldly, and second the spiritual expressions of the same vices. Thus, there can be physical gluttony for the delights of the palate and spiritual gluttony for the consolations of the soul. Jealousy is no exception, and the Jews of Antioch, jealous of the powerful spiritual impact Paul and Barnabas had on the people, instigate their persecution and expulsion. What is especially unfortunate (and ironical) is that their jealous reaction undermined in themselves the very spiritual gifts and influence they envied in Paul and Barnabas. Not unlike simony, when spiritual gifts and graces are sought as commodities to enhance one’s personal prestige, then the avenues to grace and inner transformation are blocked and we remain stuck, unhappy, and envious of those we deem spiritually superior to ourselves. The solution is to allow the virtues and spiritual gifts we see in others, to motivate us towards imitating them rather than envying and resenting them. In this we will be heeding Saint Paul’s exhortation: Imitate me, as I imitate Christ.

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