Envy
by Pat Rath

Envy is repulsive because it is sorrow at the good of another; it is a preference for self over anyone or anything; it turns into hatred of another. Envy has led to horrible crimes. Joseph's brothers sold him out of envy; out of envy the Pharisees delivered Jesus to death. Envy desires the death or ruin of the other person; it does not simply want what the other has, it wants to get rid of the rival. Envy is the compost for detraction, slander and gossip. Envy lacks gratitude, rejoices in the misfortune that comes upon those whom we should love; it introduces discord, makes us sly, rebellious, disloyal, and destroys community.

To combat it, I try to look with goodness, with love and with admiration at others. I pray for them to receive whatever good the Lord wills for them. I give thanks to God for the blessings they have already received. I practice being mannerly and gracious around them. Since envy destroys unity and undermines our trust and love for one another, we must fight it by finding ways of being one. We must defend fiercely the reputations of others, we must be loyal and merciful and practice the fear of the Lord.

To fight sin, we must practice virtue. To fight envy, which desires the death and ruin of another, we must desire good, eternal life for the one we envy. And we must beg God in his mercy to free our hearts from that envy and make us whole again.