By Fr. Glen Jones:
Saw a cute joke in a magazine the other day: “A celebrity is someone who works hard their entire life to become famous and then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.”
We do tend to love notoriety and attention … or at least think we do. But often becomes too much, and the notables again seek refuge in blissful anonymity. Many of us older folks remember the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana—she glowing and admired by millions. And yet, after many ups and downs in her life, Diana ended up dying while fleeing the spotlight. And as any celebrity finds all too soon, one thing people like more than putting people upon pedestals is knocking them off again. Ah, the fickle wind of fame blows where it will.; yesterday’s saint becomes tomorrow’s sinner.
But … why do we do that—run people down, criticize them behind their backs, spread malicious rumors, and even sabotage their work? Envy, of course … and because it’s more difficult expending effort to improve oneself than takes to knock someone down. Destroying is always easier than building, and as we read in scripture: “How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body … a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5-8), and Jesus warns: “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) One certainly need not be a Christian to realize the truth of those passages; most have experienced or at least witnessed it (and are guilty of doing it, perhaps?)
The wise, though, remember Jesus’ words: “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.” (Mark 4:24) and … the divine version of “What goes around, comes around.” The Christian in particular may remember one of the final messages given by Jesus’ angel messenger in St. John’s vision—a theme repeated throughout the scriptures: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay everyone for what he has done.” (Revelation 22:12), reminding of “He who sows injustice will reap calamity…” (Proverbs 22:8).
Well, envy isn’t one of the seven deadly sins for nothing. As St. James says in the quote above, it can be such a destructive fire in people’s lives and, by extension, the lives of families and friends of those whom they are damaging. How can we combat it?
As with any vice, defeating it begins with a determination to seek to improve oneself—to DO expend the effort to improve oneself, recognizing that no matter how it might seem at the time, when we sin against another it is reflected back upon ourselves with even greater destructive force. For instance, when one lies for his advantage and is proven wrong, that person is branded a liar and never really trusted again, even when truthful. Is that not why “the boy who cried wolf” is such a well-known parable taught to children? And even if no one discerns the deceit, it is inevitably damaging to the psyche, the conscience and the soul of the liar, making it easier to suppress conscience thereafter. Anyone who has worked in prisons—even in prison ministry—knows how deeply is buried the consciences of many of its residents … how easily (and undetectably) lies can flow.
St. Augustine is attributed with: “This is the perfection of Man, to find out his own imperfections.” But that idea remains incomplete unless one actually works to correct those imperfections and faults as best he can. As spiritual authors contend: if one were to correct even one fault per year, one would soon become perfect.
How combat vice? How correct imperfection? First of all, one must be set in steely determination of the will; as St. Thomas Aquinas wrote: “You want to become a saint? Then, will it!” Then discern the virtue which is the opposite of the vice and seek to practice that in place of the vice. For instance, to combat envy, practice generosity. To combat lust, practice what used to be called “the custody of the eyes” in avoiding that which inflames lust; it may help Christians especially to remember Jesus’: “I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) Such efforts may not—will not—come easily, but each victory results in greater strength.
But determination is so very important, because when we withdraw from vice, we often lose companions with whom we had shared that vice. You must decide what is truly important, and be ready to lose the company of those who had called you friends, and maybe even suffer at their hand. Because you no longer partake in the shared vice, they may no longer seek your company. Even scripture warns us of this: “[The wicked say] ‘Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions … He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others … and he avoids our ways as unclean’” (Wisdom 2:12-16) But then … who is doing the good in this scenario? Thus your determination to improve and seek the Good—the Christian, to seek greater holiness—is essential, else efforts are doomed to fail. Remember, too, the apostles’ courage in proclaiming to the religious authorities: “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
Editor’s note: Rev. Glenn Jones is the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe and former pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos.
