The Poison of Envy and the Way of Humility

Voice over by Eliz

1Sam 18:6-9; 19:1-7, Psalm: 55, Mk 3:7-12

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

In the quiet recesses of the human heart, two opposing forces often vie for control: one that grasps and compares, and another that serves and surrenders. Today’s Scriptures place before us the stark contrast between the poison of envy and the liberating path of humility, showing us that true peace is found not in securing our own glory, but in surrendering to the will of God.

In the First Book of Samuel, we witness the tragic corrosion of King Saul’s heart. As the women sing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands,” Saul’s joy curdles into suspicion. The text tells us, “Saul was very angry and resentful… ‘What more can he have but the kingdom?’” Envy, that “gnawing worm” as St. Augustine called it, takes root. It distorts his perception, turning a loyal servant into a rival. It leads him not only to rage but to plot murder. Jonathan’s courageous intervention, appealing to Saul’s reason and reminding him of David’s faithful service, temporarily stays his hand. Yet the seed of envy has been sown, and it will bear the bitter fruit of self-destruction. Envy isolates us, turning our blessings into bitterness and our neighbors into threats.

This destructive human pattern stands in radiant contrast to the divine humility of Jesus in the Gospel. Mark tells us that “a large number of people followed him,” pressing upon Him to be healed. The unclean spirits fall before Him, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” Here is the true King, receiving the acclaim that rightly belongs to Him. Yet, does He cling to this fame? Does He stoke His popularity? No. He strictly orders the spirits not to make Him known. His mission is not self-aggrandizement, but self-giving. He draws His authority not from public opinion, but from His relationship with the Father. His is a humility so profound that it channels all power into service. As St. Paul would later write, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave… he humbled himself” (Phil 2:7-8).

For us, the application is urgent and deeply personal. We are all vulnerable to the whisper of envy. It can appear when a colleague receives praise, when a friend seems more blessed, or when we feel overlooked. Like Saul, we can let it fester, poisoning our relationships and our peace. The antidote is the humility of Christ.

Humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it is thinking of ourselves less. It is the grateful recognition that all we have is a gift from God, and that our brother’s or sister’s success does not diminish our own dignity in His eyes. It frees us to celebrate others and to serve without need for recognition.

St. John Chrysostom advised, “Let us flee from the praise of men; let us flee from the love of command.” We flee by doing as Jesus did: by turning our gaze to the Father in prayer and by directing our energy to the quiet, often unseen, works of love.

Let us examine our hearts today. Where does envy lurk? Let us bring it to the light of Christ’s merciful heart. And let us ask for the grace of true humility—the humility that trusts God so completely with our worth that we are free to serve, to rejoice with others, and to find our glory only in Him. Amen.

May God bless you all!