Note: On Tuesdays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
I heard a thought-provoking homily recently about envy as an outgrowth of pride, characterized as the mother of all the deadly sins. I hadn’t thought that envy was much of a problem for me… until it was coupled with that judgment thing.
Judgment and envy are at the heart of today’s Gospel reading from John 5. Jesus cures the man who has been sick for thirty-eight years, who doesn’t even have anyone to help him into the pool. Are the authorities happy for the man? Do they engage in any introspection as to why their community had done so little to help him? Of course not. They focus on the fact that the healing came on the sabbath, that yet again, the rules had not been followed. Perhaps they’re a bit envious that this sort of thing doesn’t seem to happen in their own lives, on the sabbath or any other day. They judge… because that’s safe. It’s safer than considering a miracle has just occurred.
When we judge or envy, we attempt to pollute the Lord’s refreshing waters. We attempt to out-God God in determining what’s best for the world. And even as we do it, we know subconsciously that we will fail. Going against the flow of God’s love is like swimming upstream against the current… it tires us out and ultimately is pointless. May we resolve today to set aside attempting to analyze God’s goodness on the sabbath or any other day… and go with His flow.
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