Hey, Jealousy
Sep. 28: Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jealousy is kind of nonsense, when you think about it. We see something that someone else has, whether it's a physical thing, or an ability, or the esteem of others, and we want it for ourselves.
But as we hear in today's readings, all things belong to God. There's no one to be jealous of, because ultimately, it doesn't belong to them and it can't belong to us.
Reading 1
Nm 11:25-29
The LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, the LORD bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied.
Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; yet the spirit came to rest on them also, and they prophesied in the camp. So, when a young man quickly told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp, "
Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses' aide, said, "Moses, my lord, stop them."
But Moses answered him, "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"
We don't know how or why God distributes His gifts. Moses has a point--wouldn't it be great if we were all prophets?
But the issue here is obviously the jealous 68. They're elders, sure, but so far as we know, they didn't do much other than gather around the tabernacle with Moses. In fact, just a few verses before this passage starts,1 God says to Moses, "Is this beyond the LORD’s reach? You shall see now whether or not what I have said to you takes place."
The gift of prophecy is God's doing, not the elders'. They should be grateful for the gift they received, not jealous that two guys back at camp also got it.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
R. (9a) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
Though your servant is careful of them,
very diligent in keeping them,
yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
From wanton sin especially, restrain your servant;
let it not rule over me.
Then shall I be blameless and innocent
of serious sin.
R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The psalmist shows humility absent in the rest of today's readings. He not only acknowledges his sin, but recognizes he's done wrong without even realizing it.
Now, a "sin" must be a conscious decision, but our actions can have negative consequences, including and especially unintended consequences. So, the psalmist asks God, in His infinite wisdom, power, and love, to cleanse him from even his unknown faults. Instead of jealously eying the gifts others have, he simply asks God for the gifts that he needs.
Reading 2
Jas 5:1-6
Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.
Sometimes, these ancient books have a subtext that we miss in modern times. They allude to then-current events without explicitly stating them, which is why we often need historians and scholars to help us read things in proper context.
Not today, though! James isn't referring to any particular rich people. He's condemning Anyone who abuses their wealth and status, past and future, from Mr. Slate to Mr. Spacely.2
James provides us with yet another reason to not be jealous--nothing lasts, anyway. Gold corrodes, clothing falls apart, entropy continues unabated. Our only hope is in Jesus, so we should keep focused on Him, not accumulating wealth.
Alleluia
Cf. Jn 17:17b, 17a
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Acknowledging God's truth isn't enough; we have to integrate it into our very souls.
Gospel
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”
As in the first reading, Jesus tells the Apostles not to worry that someone else has been given the gift of casting out demons. There's enough of God's power to go around.
Instead, we should worry about our own actions. Are we influencing the world towards good, or evil (even unknowingly, as in the psalm)? Don't worry about the cost to our material wealth; instead worry about the cost to our souls.
Selfishness “will devour your fleshy like a fire,” James wrote. Jesus takes that further: if we're causing others to sin, we'll be equally punished.
The good that we do and the evil we cause will be remembered. Our bank account won't. Jealousy isn't the answer; asking God for guidance is.
Could you tell We've been watching old cartoons with Amelia lately?