Gratitude and Envy!-Homily for Monday of the 15th week in ordinary time 17th July 2023

Homily for Monday of the 15th week in ordinary time 

Exodus 1:8-14.22; Ps.124; Matthew 10:34-11:1

Gratitude and Envy!

One observation about some individuals that is intriguing is their ability to easily forget the good that was done to them yesterday; at the same time, they are able to remember the wrong melted against them years ago. One may begin to wonder if the human memory is wired to perfectly keep scores of wrongs but quickly forget acts of kindness. The truth is, this contradictory abilities is common with ungrateful and envious hearts. An ungrateful and envious person does not care about what to be grateful for, but is so concerned about what to get for himself, especially through covetousness.

In the first reading of today, we encounter a new king of Egypt who was ungrateful and envious. It is said that he did not know Joseph. Not knowing Joseph here, means that he did not care about the salvific role Joseph played in the history of the Egyptians; for if not for Joseph, the seven years of famine would have been so remarkable in their history for the huge loss that would have been recorded (that is if there would have been any survivor). You can imagine that henceforth, the Egyptians were telling this story with grateful hearts. Since the story of the instrumentality of Joseph also marked the beginning of the stay of the sons of Israel in Egypt, the much the Egyptians could do was to always be receptive to them.

But this new king came who had no sense of gratitude. He may have been uncomfortable that the glorious history of the Egyptians was tied to Joseph, a foreigner. Maybe he wanted to rewrite the history and carve out a new one that will be grateful to his reign. But since he could not change the past, he acted shrewdly against the sons of Israel on the basis of futuristic speculation. The sons of Israel did nothing wrong or suspicious to warrant this negative speculation. Yet, the new king went as far as oppressing them, as well as commanding that every new born son be thrown into the Nile.

Beloved, with all your strength, guide against ingratitude and envy. These vices are capable of taking you down the road of destruction in a way and with a speed that you never imagined. Often times, we are ungrateful because we only see the shortcomings of others; it is at death that we begin to romanticize the value of the deceased. This should not be so. Take out time and identify those through whom God has blessed you. In your own little but amazing way, show them gratitude.

Gratitude and envy exist in every human heart in direct proportion. If your gratitude-level is 80%, your envy-level is automatically 20%. The more thankful we are, the less envious we become; and vice versa. So, the best way to kill envy in the heart is by increasing our attitude of gratitude. It is not healthy to understand your achievements only from the angle of your personal effort. There is at least someone to thank for everything you have in life. Identify those persons and do the needful.