Daily Retreat 01/19/06

2006 Jan 19 Thu: Ordinary Weekday

1 Sm 18: 6-9; 19: 1-7/ Ps 55(56): 2-3. 9-10a. 10b-11. 12-13/ Mk 3: 7-12

From today’s readings: "And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.... Now I know that God is with me.... He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon Him to touch Him."

Jealousy of Goodness

David’s defeat of Goliath was a miracle that made him very popular with the people of Israel, but clearly, God gave David that victory for the sake of all of His people, not just for some fleeting fame and popularity for David!

But as the crowds celebrate David’s triumph, perhaps the only one among the Israelites who didn’t feel like celebrating was King Saul, who becomes bitter because the people held David’s success in higher esteem. In Saul’s blind jealousy, the fact that God had also blessed Saul with success in his past endeavors was now inconsequential - the only thing that mattered was that David was outshining him!

Sometimes, those who are striving to serve God faithfully find themselves pricked with that same diabolic jealousy: Why do others have more success than I do in evangelizing? Why do others show up at just the right moment as "Good Samaritans" in high profile cases, whereas the opportunities I have to help others are much less glamourous? Why are others chosen to receive heavenly visions and other special graces, when I just experience God in the most ordinary ways?

Far from letting jealousy spoil such blessings, we need to rejoice always in the goodness of others, especially when God, in His wisdom, chooses to do great things through others. The effort to realize the Kingdom of God is the world’s greatest team effort, and each of us has a crucial position to play! An outfielder won’t play his position well if he’s sulking because he’s not the pitcher, and likewise you and I will only botch up our own vocation and position of serving God if we sour with jealousy for the role of others.