Beloved: Where jealously and selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every foul practice.

Later on in the reading, James speaks about envy.

Have you ever read a good article on jealously and /or envy? If you have, I invite you to share it with me. The following is a brief piece on the uncomfortable feelings of jealously and envy gleamed from the writings of psychologist Dr. William Kraft. Kraft says that jealously has to do with relationship, while envy has to do with coveting what another possesses. We may feel jealous of another's relationship, Person A may feel jealous about Person B's relationship with Person C. We may feel excluded or feel threatened by Person B's relationship with Person C. I feel I am "out" and they are "in". As I just said, envy usually involves coveting what another has. I may covet another's personality traits; e.g., their good looks, articulate speech, dynamic personality. I may envy another's position, job, possessions, friends, education, etc.

Dr. Kraft says that a key element of jealousy is insecurity and low self-esteem. If I were truly aware of my own giftedness and goodness I would have no need to be jealous of another person. Kraft suggests that we listen to our jealous feelings and see what they are saying to us; e.g., am I feeling secure? Am I cutting myself short? Am I too dependent? Rather than beating ourselves for having such feelings, we should try to accept them as part of the wounded self. Then perhaps, we can share these feelings with another who might be able to help us see from where these feelings are coming.

Envy has to do a lot with "having". We become envious of another's "possessions," be they personal qualities or material things. Dr. Kraft says that the culture promotes envy because of the heavy emphasis on "having" and "possessing". Dealing with envy involves placing primary value on who we are rather than what we have.

True and False Ambition

The following piece on today's gospel was written by Fr. Flor McCarthy.

There's nothing wrong with being ambitious. Indeed, it is good to be ambitious, to have goals, to want to be good at what one does and to succeed in it. But ambition can get out of hand. It can cause us to forget everything else in the pursuit of success in business or in a career.

Hence, we must be careful what we are sacrificing in the pursuit of our goals. We may be sacrificing family life, justice, kindness, even life itself. Drive and ambition can cause one to treat others in a cruel or unjust way. What good will it do us if we gain the whole world but lose ourselves?

In the Gospel we see the apostles fighting over who would be first in Jesus' kingdom. The scene is not an edifying one. That they are driven by selfishness and false ambition shows how little they had learned from Jesus. It shows how poor was their understanding of his mission. Jesus called them together and gave them a lecture on the meaning of true greatness.

Jesus did not abolish ambition. Rather, he redefined it. For the ambition to rule others he substituted the ambition to serve others. For the ambition to have others do things for us he substituted the ambition to do things for others. So, it is not ambition itself that is being condemned, but false ambition.

False ambition is very damaging to the unity of the community. It springs from jealousy and selfishness. And it can result in all kinds of ugly behavior. So much of the violence and evil in our society results from greed and selfishness. Self-interest creates conflict and often results in painful divisions.

There is a good form of ambition which Christians should not shy away from. Jesus did not tell the apostles that they should not seek greatness in his kingdom. He just showed them where true greatness was to be found. It is not to be found in being the masters of others, but rather in being the servants of others, especially the weaker members of the community.

It's easier to serve the great, because we feel honoured through our association with them, and there is a better chance of rewards. But the real test is serving the least, from whom we cannot expect any rewards. Jesus says, 'Whoever welcomes one such child, welcomes me.' 'Welcome' means loving service. And 'child' stands for the weakest members of the community, who are the most needy. Service rendered to the least is best of all. We hear the same words in the last judgment scene: 'As long as you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me.'

Jesus set the example himself. Though he had authority from God, he never used that authority to dominate others. Instead, he used it to serve others. And that service was directed towards the poor, the sick, the maimed, the outcasts....

The really great people, those who are fondly remembered, are not those who sought to further themselves and their own interests, but rather those who devoted themselves to furthering the interests of the community.

Reflections on the Heart of a True Servant

In today's gospel, the disciples were caught by Jesus discussing among themselves who was the greatest. Then Jesus sat down the Twelve and said to them:

"If anyone wishes to be the first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."

In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rich Warren offers the following challenging reflections on the attitudes of a true servant.

We serve God by serving others.

The world defines greatness in terms of power, possessions, prestige, and position. If you can demand service from others, you've arrived. In our self-serving culture with its me-first mentality, acting like a servant is not a popular concept.

Jesus, however, measured greatness in terms of service, not statues. God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve. You. This is so contrary to the world's idea of greatness that we have a hard time understanding it, much less practicing it. The disciples argued about who deserved the most prominent position, and 2,000 years later, Christian leaders still jockey for position and prominence in churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.

Real servants make themselves available to serve. Servants don't fill up their time with other pursuits that could limit their availability. They want to be ready to jump into service when called on. Much like a soldier, a servant must always be standing by for duty: "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.". If you only serve when it's convenient for you, you're not a real servant. Real servants do what's needed, even when it's inconvenient.

Real servants do their best with what they have. Servants don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Servants never say, "One of these days" or "When the time is right." They just do what needs to be done. The Bible says, "if you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.". (Eccl 11:4) God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are. Less-than-perfect service is always better than the best intention.

Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid: washing feet, helping children, fixing breakfast, and serving lepers. Nothing was beneath him, because he came to serve. It wasn't in spite of his greatness that he did these things, but because of it, and he expects us to follow his example.

Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. The little things in life determine the big things. Don't look for great tasks to do for God. Just do the not-so-great stuff, and God will assign you whatever he wants you to do. But before attempting the extraordinary, try serving in ordinary ways.

Real servants are faithful to their ministry. Servants finish their tasks, fulfill their responsibilities, keep their promises, and complete their commitments. They don't leave a job half undone, and they don't quit when they get discouraged. They are trustworthy and dependable.

Real servants maintain a low profile. Servants don't promote or call attention to themselves. Instead of acting to impress and dressing for success, they "put on the apron of humility, to serve one another." If recognized for their service, they humbly accept it but don't allow notoriety to distract them from their work.

Self-promotion and servanthood don't mix. Real servants don't serve for the approval or applause of others. They live for an audience of One. As Paul said, "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Servants think more about others than about themselves. Servants focus on others, not themselves. This is true humility: not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. They are self-forgetful. Paul said, "Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." . This is what it means to "lose your life" - forgetting yourself in service to others. When we stop focusing on our own needs, we become aware of the needs around. us.

Servants think of ministry as an opportunity, not an obligation. They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry. They "serve the LORD with gladness." Why do they serve with gladness? Because they love the Lord, they're grateful for his grace, they know serving is the highest us of life, and they know God has promised a reward.

Daily, I encounter many true Ascension servants. Week after week, sometimes day after day you share your time and talent to serve others. I thank you. If you do not get all the credit and affirmation you deserve don't let it bother you. God sees the good you do and that is what really matters.