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Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored. Mark 3:4–5

How would you answer this question? “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” Objectively speaking, the answer is easy: “Yes!” But subjectively speaking, when we consider the person performing the good deed, it’s easy to let our thoughts, feelings, and past experiences of that person affect our judgment. If we have a grievance toward someone—resulting in anger, jealousy, or envy—our answer might differ from the ideal, as it did with the Pharisees toward Jesus.

Anger is a strong emotional reaction to perceived injustice or injury that, when disordered, can lead to resentment, bitterness, or a desire for vengeance. Jealousy is a fear of losing what we have to another and is rooted in insecurity or pride, leading to a protective but distorted attachment to our own status, relationships, or achievements. Envy is a sadness or sorrow over the blessings or successes of another, often accompanied by a refusal to celebrate their good fortune and a desire that they be deprived of it. These are ugly sins. Sins that filled Jesus’ Sacred Heart with righteous anger and holy grief.

In this Gospel passage, the Pharisees appear to suffer from all three sins. Their anger is evident in their hostile reaction to Jesus’ words and actions, as they see Him as a threat to their authority and influence. Their jealousy manifests in their fear of losing their power and status among the people to Jesus, whose teachings and miracles overshadow their own ministry. Their envy becomes apparent in their inability to rejoice in the man’s healing, resenting instead Jesus’ authority and the attention he attracts. These sins harden their hearts, blinding them to God’s mercy and love that Jesus embodies, and lead them down a path of malice and conspiracy.

When we consider the Pharisees’ negative and sinful reactions, it’s easy to condemn them, thinking we would never react that way. Yet, before we jump to that conclusion, it’s important to examine all the relationships and encounters we have with others.

Jesus embodies every virtue and spiritual gift—mercy and justice, compassion and strength, diligence and docility, humility and majesty, patience and zeal, wisdom and prudence, faith and fortitude, hope and charity. For which of these did the Pharisees manifest their anger, jealousy, and envy? It’s impossible to answer that question because these sins are always rooted in irrationality. The same is true in our lives.

Considering the people we encounter on a regular basis, it’s important to examine whether we struggle with anger, jealousy, or envy. This is often difficult to do because these sins blind us to the truth. When we are angry, we irrationally blame others as the cause of our anger. When jealous, our insecurity leads us to justify our reaction and condemn the one whom we feel is a threat. When envious, our self-concern distorts our ability to see the good in another, preventing us from rejoicing in their success or goodness.

Jesus came to set us free from these heavy burdens. The Pharisees were not happy because these sins dominated their lives. Similarly, we will never find the peace, joy, and happiness we desire until we turn anger into love and forgiveness, jealousy into gratitude, and envy into admiration and rejoicing in the blessings of others.

Reflect today on those people you encounter on a regular basis. Where these sins enter into those relationships, accept responsibility for them, confess them, and pray for virtue to replace them. Our Lord wants us to rejoice with Him, participate in His glorious virtues and spiritual gifts, and receive the overflowing rewards that they bestow.

Most virtuous and gifted Lord, You embody all that is good, all that is holy, and all that flows from Your divine Godhead. When I act more like the Pharisees than like You, open my eyes to the sins of anger, jealousy, and envy. Free me from these heavy burdens by revealing to me the humble truth and filling me with the virtues and gifts You long to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You.

Image: Ilyas Basim Khuri Bazzi Rahib, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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