Our journey with St Paul to the Greek City of
Corinth began on Monday, where Paul introduced the principle of his teaching as
flowing from the knowledge of Christ crucified. And his mission was a
demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, not to showcase human wisdom
unlike the Greek thinkers. Yesterday he drew their attention to the workings of
the Holy Spirit, who reveals the mysteries, the gifts of God and gives
understanding to those who believe. This was to ensure that their faith would
not be based on human wisdom, but believers have the mind of Christ.
On this third day of our journey, St Paul condemns the life of the flesh among believers. He frowns at this because the baptized ought to be led by the Holy Spirit, who becomes their new ‘frame of mind.’ Interestingly, he mentions jealousy among others as the commonest sign that they have not totally surrendered to the workings of the Holy Spirit. “For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?” Jealousy is listed among the sins that oppose the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:20). Sad enough, St Paul pointed out that this jealousy exists in the house of God. Then, think about the height of jealousy that exists among friends, families, colleagues, business associates, etc. Every fruit of jealousy is poisonous to anyone it touches, beginning with the one who bears it.
According to St Paul, the simple solution to avoid jealousy is to realize that God alone matters, and He alone gives growth. He gives each according to His will and their capacity (Mt 25:15). Everyone has a role to play, though differently. “Each shall receive his wages according to his labour.” So, we must all look up to God. It takes one who has the ‘mind of Christ’, whose mind is surrendered to the workings of the Spirit, to discover himself and appreciate what God has given him. The Holy Spirit draws us to look up to Jesus and discover the things that really matter, instead burning ourselves away on jealousy.
Think about how the people ran up to Jesus at Simon’s mother-in-law’s house with various diseases and they received their healing! In the same way, when people have the glories we are praying for, we thank God for them and run up to Jesus in faith and prayer. He will cast out the evil of jealousy so that we can appreciate the gifts of God in us, and see in Jesus our ultimate good. Have a blessed day.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday September 2nd,
2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
