Wis 2:12, 17-20
Ps 54
Jas 3:16-4:3
Mk 9:30-37
We are regularly treated to scenes of people handling their emotions badly just in the course of our daily lives. Oftentimes performers, athletes, and politicians,--especially politicians, both parties--exhibit these tantrums on the public stage such that they are reported breathlessly on the news thereby generating many too many words by pundits. Having and coping with emotions is one of the challenges of being human. Learning to recognize and control emotions is one of the major tasks of child and adolescent development, one that is not always completed. Each of today's readings involves dangerous emotions that can drive dangerous responses.
The prophetic dimension of the first reading is obvious. It is a prediction and synopsis of the Passion narrative. “Let us beset the just one because he reproaches us for transgressions of the law.” “Let us condemn him to a shameful death. . . “ Jesus sealed his death warrant when he pointed out hypocrisy and sin. Sometimes his reproaches were subtle: “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.” Other times they were unmistakably pointed: “You have made my Father’s house a den of thieves.”
Most of us don't handle criticism of our behavior very well. Critiques are frequently met with hostility if not outright rage. I participate in a few photography web sites that allow comments. Simply pointing out that someone used the wrong form of "there, their, they're" . . . can call forth responses written in ALL CAPS demanding to know if you are the grammar police. Try telling someone “Give me the car keys you're drunk and in no shape to drive.” That may be the end of a friendship or the beginning of a family rift.
The Letter of James points out the two most dangerous of all human emotions: envy and jealousy.
Envy and jealousy are not identical, they are not synonyms, and they are not interchangeable. Envy means wanting what the other has. Call it keeping up with Joneses. Envy is not always a negative emotion. Accruing severe credit card debt in an attempt to have the same car and granite countertops as the neighbors is damaging. However, envy may be a positive motivation to aim higher or work harder to attain a goal, as in "I wish I had grades like hers. Maybe if I studied more."
Jealousy, on the other hand, is the fear that someone will take what one has or possesses. The responses to that fear can range from threatening to lethal.
We heard, “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder. . . . you fight and wage war.”
Human nature has not changed since these words were written, we simply have larger budgets and more powerful weapons, include social networking with which to cause irreparable damage.
In response to the disciples' jockeying for power and prestige, Jesus placed a child in their midst. He was not, and is not, implying a sentimental understanding of childhood. Jesus does not suggest that childhood is a time of sweetness and light, sun and fun, wide-eyed joyful astonishment, and naiveté. Childhood is not a Hummel figurine writ large.
Jesus was not suggesting that children are untainted by negative and even murderous emotions.
Children know envy. Children are well-acquainted with jealousy. They express, anger, fury, and violence if sufficiently provoked. Just watch a few three year-olds struggling over a toy. It can get ugly.
“Mooooooooooommmmmmmm. That's my toy!!!!!
“I WANT THAT.”
“NO! It's mine.”
SMACKKKKKKK!
"Mooooooooooooommmmmyyyy, Suzy hit me."
Jesus used a child to make a point about relentless status seeking that has to be seen in context.
Unlike the modern U.S. in which family life may be ruled by the children's whims and wants, children in the Ancient Near East had no social standing. They had no political significance. They had minimal to no religious responsibilities. Children were powerless. Jesus statement, “unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven” makes the point that status has nothing to do with entering the Kingdom of heaven. He is telling the disciples, 'stop arguing,' 'stop jockeying for position.'
Humans are habitual status seekers who crave money and power, who desire prestige and shiny objects. We even seek status through no effort of our own by basking in reflected glory; how else to explain spending $100 or more for a football jersey with a star's name emblazoned on the back except that the wearer is trying to proclaim status because my team is better than your team. Sounds like a Ken-L-Ration commercial.
Throughout the liturgical year we hear Gospel readings that caution against pursuing, accumulating, and hoarding possessions or wealth. At the final judgment he who has the most toys when he dies will be no different from the one who dies never having had a toy in his life. By using a child as His example Jesus emphasized the need for a degree of indifference to worldly success, power, and possessions if one wishes to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Power is not bad,
but relentlessly seeking it to the exclusion of all else is.
Wealth is not necessarily the path to hell,
but ruthlessly and callously chasing it is.
The Principle and Foundation that begins the Spiritual Exercisesof St. Ignatius of Loyola explains the correct attitude.
“. . . it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent
to all created things. . .
so that, on our part,
we ought not to seek
health rather than sickness,
wealth rather than poverty,
honor rather than dishonor,
a long life rather than a short one,
and so on
in all other matters.”
Once achieving status, accumulating honors, or pursuing the biggest, shiniest, and most toys becomes the reason for our existence, we are risking the Kingdom of Heaven. Is it worth it?
+ Fr. Jack, SJ, MD
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