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JUNE 26<br />
THE MANY MASKS OF ENVY<br />
“And the chief priests accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked<br />
him, ‘Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring<br />
against you.’ But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.<br />
Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they<br />
asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the<br />
insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up<br />
and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered<br />
them, saying, ‘Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?’ For<br />
he perceived that it was out of envy (διὰ φθόνον) that the chief priests had<br />
delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him<br />
release for them Barabbas instead.” (Mk 15: 3-11)<br />
A while ago I reflected on “envy” (from the Latin “invidia,” i.e., “non<br />
sight”), a blindness that occurs from the desire to have what someone<br />
else has. But now here it is, once again. The chief priests masked their<br />
envy, accusing Christ “of many things.” Christ gives no answer to these<br />
charges, because they are masks.<br />
Envy tends to mask its ugly face, which is why it is sometimes hard to<br />
detect, both for the envied and the envious. It can be masked in a political<br />
ideology, or in righteous indignation, as it is here, in the case of the chief<br />
priests, who pretend to be protecting ancient traditions and structures. It<br />
can conversely be masked in flattery and even infatuation, attempting to<br />
get close to the envied and thus acquire what he/she has “by association.”<br />
This can be the basis of stalking celebrities, and then quietly rejoicing<br />
over their “fall” in some scandal.<br />
Today let me get in touch with God in grateful prayer, at least a bit, and<br />
also take time for some self-examination, in His light. Because His grace,<br />
His divine energies, bring me the ability to see myself and others as He<br />
sees us; not in competition with one another, but as unique persons with<br />
unique journeys, each with his/her own challenges and blessings. “Thy<br />
will be done,” I say today, with me and with others, “on earth as it is in<br />
heaven.”<br />
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