A meditation on how to handle envy while staying true to a righteous path.
You walk into a clean home or hop into an impeccably neat car that smells fresh. Everything seems perfectly in place—no dust or dirt, just perfect order. At that moment, perhaps without even realizing it, you reflect on your surroundings—your car, your house. The pristine space passes judgment on your untidiness. It strikes a chord in you sense of cleanliness.
I have had that experience more than once. It often inspires me to come home, tidy up, and make my bed a little better, or take those empty bottles of water and an endless list of receipts from my car to the trash can where they belong.
Or you are one of those employees who always clock in on time, follow the rules, and maintain high standards of ethics at work. Naturally, you might expect that this dedication would earn you the admiration of your colleagues. Perhaps, even win “Employee of the Year.” Yet, to your surprise, many of your colleagues show dislike. It’s not that they dislike you as a person—often, they do like you—but they struggle with your high sense of responsibility.
The issue is that your commitment stands in stark contrast to their more relaxed approach. Your responsible lifestyle makes them uncomfortable. “Take life easy,” they would’ve loved to advise. If they could, they would try to undermine your efforts.
Wisdom from the Book of Wisdom
The above examples are common human reactions. The Book of Wisdom gives us insight into how the “ungodly” think and act. To be clear, the ungodly, as used in the text, are those who believe temporal life here on earth is the ultimate value, and enjoyment of it without consideration of life after death is all that matters. By extension, they are the unrighteous who allow their natural inclinations to override the Spirit’s guiding. They could also be those who do not see any purpose beyond what the desires of the flesh dictate. The righteous person’s life challenges theirs, so they plot against the righteous, wanting them out of the way.
The Book of Wisdom vividly describes the unrighteous attitude: “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law and accuses us of sins against our training” (Wisdom 2:12).
The Root of the Problem
At the root of attitude of plotting against the righteous is envy. Another is discomfort with being judged. Saint James speaks about how envy breeds division and an unwholesome spirit: “Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will be disorder and wickedness of every kind” (Jas 3:16).
The very presence of a righteous person—whether they say anything or not—speaks volumes. Their virtuous actions, even simple ones like avoiding bad language and being kind, can make others around them uncomfortable. Acts of piety such as attending church regularly, reading the Bible often, or saying the Rosary, might add salt to the injury. The righteous’ following of the ethics of their profession might aggravate the jealousy of certain people. So, what should the righteous do in such situations?
Should You Stop Doing Good?
Should you stop doing good because it makes others uneasy? Not a wise option to stop. Experience tells us that we don’t win friends by stopping doing good. If you stopped, the envious would still not embrace you. You would have enabled their envy and made them justified for it. You must continue to do good anyway.
Envy doesn’t ask, “Why is this person so responsible, so successful?” Instead, it asks, “How can I remove this person who makes me feel small in comparison?”
Those driven by envy fail to see that success is not about tearing others down. True success comes from building, taking responsibility, and finding one’s unique path in life. It is never about blocking someone else’s progress. It is about removing the speck in our own eyes (Matt 7:3-5) so that we can see the path God has set for us. The first step toward this is humility. The second is self-awareness.
The Way of Christ
Our Lord, the man of sorrows, who embodies the suffering of the just, shows us the way forward. He is the Righteous One, the Servant of God who embraces the way of the cross. He teaches us that greatness lies in humble service: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all” (Mk 9:35).
Authentic leadership and greatness come from a spirit of servant leadership. It requires readiness to serve others and a willingness to take the back seat when necessary for the greater good, so that through our actions, others may see the goodness of God and glorify him.
The unholy rivalry stems from the desire to be seen as better or higher than others. It could also come from the quiet jealousy of someone else’s progress that we are not bold enough to acknowledge or praise. Any of the above quickly breeds a spirit of in-fighting, contrary to holiness.
Humble Awareness and Acceptance
How may we address unholy rivalry? The answer lies in humble awareness and acceptance of goodness wherever it is found.
The first step is acknowledging that we are not the ultimate value; and that life is beyond our temporal existence. We are accountable to the creator. It requires listening humbly to what God teaches through our surroundings and within us, opening us to faithful service for the sake of goodness. Self-awareness helps us be open to listening and presupposess humility, too.
This spirit of humility, self-awareness, and service is a radical rejection of envy and jealousy. It is one of the secrets to true greatness. It also reflects the purity of a child’s heart—surrender and trust in providence.
As we journey through this week, may we open ourselves to God’s grace. May we allow him to help us recognize ourselves and let go of the pride and attachments that inflate our egos? May we embrace the grace of selfless service and surrender to the divine will. Amen.
[Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37]
