Replies

Erm. Is it envy if you wish you had as much as someone else has? Without taking anything from them?

Let's say my best friend "Mike" has all kinds of good stuff in life.

Is it envy if I think "More Power to Mike, I wish I was like him!"?

Wouldn't that be closer to emulation and imitation?

I don't think that is envy. Envy would be wishing you had what "Mike" had and that Mike had a feather up his....well, you know.

Envy is a practice in futility. You are putting Mike and all his belongings into what might be called the secular set of Beaitutdes:

"Blessed are those who have lots of stuff."

You and I both know that stuff does not make a person here on earth happy, nor does it lead to eternal life in heaven.

Even Jesus Christ tells us in the Beatitudes:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

What does it mean to be "poor in spirit"? The Greek noun translated "poor" is ptochos speaking of extreme poverty, without the means of self-support.

"Erm. Is it envy if you wish you had as much as someone else has? Without taking anything from them?

Let's say my best friend "Mike" has all kinds of good stuff in life.

Is it envy if I think "More Power to Mike, I wish I was like him!"?"

That is exactly envy.

Erm. Is it envy if you wish you had as much as someone else has? Without taking anything from them? Let's say my best friend "Mike" has all kinds of good stuff in life. Is it envy if I think "More Power to Mike, I wish I was like him!"?

It could be. Depends on what kind of feelings it elicits in you. Is it just admiration and respect because your friend worked hard and achieved? Or does it elicit anger and resentment? Or is it that you think he's done well because money and possessions are the paramount thing in life? Or are you not thankful for your own spot in life?

The Commandments go a little bit further than just "Do not kill" or "Do not covet".

For instance, if your friend's position in life leads you into all consuming quest for the same type of material success, that might actually fall under idolatry. Putting money and the quest for it before God. And if you become jealous of your friend, even if you don't act on it, you're probably sinning. Similar to when Christ said that the man who lusts for another in his heart is already and adulterer.

Across the road from me is a very rich man,. He's a good, though weird, guy.

So one day my priest and I were loading a washing machine that he was giving to us to give to somebody onto the back of my pickup.

THis guy has a John Deere Lawnmower to die for. So I said to Father Ralph."Help! I'm committing envy! I want that lawnmower?"

He said, "You could want one just like it ...."

I just got here, but isn't the real deal that instead of trusting God to show His love for me in the best way, and instead of loving my neighbor, I m all upset because my neighbor is smarter od handsomer or stronger or richer or more holy than I? I don't know. When the compost hits the air conditioner it's hard to remember that God is my help and my salvation. (It's easy to remember not delighting in any man's legs -- Eeew!, but the rest of it, I'm not too good at.)