By Carlos V. Cornejo
Here’s another virtue
that we can appreciate better if we talk first about its opposing vice. The
virtue we are referring to can have many names. It can be called solidarity
with others or being united with them in their cause or in their joys as
much as we are united with them in their sorrows. It can also be named as admiring
others for their good qualities or good deeds and thus we don’t only admire
them but also aspire to follow their good example. On the other hand, the
opposing vice can only have one name. It is the capital sin of envy.
St. Thomas Aquinas defines envy as “sorrow at another’s good.” Envy is seeing something good in others
either spiritual in nature (virtues, holiness, etc.), physical (good looks,
talent, etc.) or material (money, items, etc.) that we think we should have too.
And since we don’t have it, we feel that sorrow. Envy is the only vice that
gives no pleasure at all to the person experiencing it. Not even temporary
pleasure. All the other sins such as pride, greed, lust give pleasure in one
form or another (that is why its enticing) but envy only offers pure sorrow. Envy
is a malicious sin because it is the sin of the devil. The ancient Book of
Wisdom says, “By the envy of the devil, death came into the world” (Wisdom
2:24). Pride and envy are Satan’s own special sins.
Second reason why envy is malicious: it could lead to a worse sin of
hatred. And hatred is the lowest form of sin because we are supposed to love
others as the highest commandment of God along with love for God. We are
supposed to be in solidarity with others, able to “rejoice with those who
rejoice and weep with those who weep” as St. Paul would advise us in Romans
12:15. Envy on the other hand weeps at those who rejoice and rejoices at those
who weep.
We should not be envious of others because God has given us all a
good proportion of talents and abilities. Some are good in math. Others are
good in science. Others have a talent in singing, others in dancing. But there
is no one who is good in everything. This is how God treats us “equally,” by
creating us differently. If we don’t understand or accept this, then we will
always have a reason to be envious. It is not humanly equal but divinely equal.
For with God there is no equity or uniformity in talents and features otherwise
we will be robots. Variety is the spice of life.
So, when we see goodness in others, we should admire them, be happy
for them and even emulate them. There is always something good in us and in
others that we could learn from regardless of color, race, religion, gender, or
profession. Besides there is no one who is pure evil. That title belongs only
to the devil. The ultimate antidote to envy is seeking our joy in the Lord. With
Him we don’t lack anything (spiritual) even if we don’t have much (material or
physical) in the eyes of the world. “Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and
delight in his salvation.” (Psalm 35:9).
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