Daily HOMILY for April 13, 2019: Saturday in the 5th Week in Lent

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Saturday of 5^th Week of Lent

Women of Prayer; Women of Wisdom

Retreat and Conference Center at Bon Secours

April 13, 2019

COMPARE AND DESPAIR +++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  James Martin is a famous Jesuit & spiritual writer 

Ø  In one of his books, he offers a simple piece of advice: “Compare and despair”  

Ø  Martin’s point is that when we start comparing ourselves with others, we often feel less than they and feel down on ourselves

Ø  One of the results of this is the vice we call envy

GOSPEL +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  Envy is dangerous for It can lead to negative and destructive behavior

Ø  This is what happens in today’s Gospel

Ø  The chief priests and Pharisees envy the accomplishments of Jesus

Ø  That envy contorts and distorts them and leads them down a path that becomes terribly destructive

APPLICATION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  So, if we can’t think about

o   Kind of car that your neighbor is driving

o   Or vacation that other school family is taking

o   Or the large home that your relative has

Ø  If we can’t think about these things 

o   Without feeling less about ourselves

o   Or down on ourselves or a bit catty

o   Or even bitter towards those others

Ø  There is some envy at work within us  

Ø  We are guilty of envy

o   When we find it difficult to celebrate w/ others when some good happens to them

o   When we diminish the accomplishments of others with negative talk

o   When we relish hearing about someone’s failure or fall from grace

GRATITUDE AND THANKFULNESS +++++++++++++++

Ø  For them, and for us, to tame our envy we need to look at our own lives and especially our blessings

Ø  We need to look at what we have and have been given by God instead of what others have

Ø  We need to be thankful for that

Ø  This curbs and tames our tendency to envy

Ø  It helps us to heed that warning of James Martin: “Compare and despair.”

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