Joseph and his brothers

As I was getting ready for the Mass this morning, I was looking for something profound to use which would stay with the Third Graders.  I was hoping to find something from St. Bernard or Catherine of Sienna.  The one quote which sort of formed the outline of my homily went something like, 'haters do not really hate you, they just see in you what they wish they were.'  So there I had it.

I had asked the young ones whether or not they became mad or bothered when a younger sibling seemed to have less responsibility, or more toys and attention.  All of them admitted that they were irritated by what they thought was favoritism.  We talked about our gifts and how God loves our uniqueness.  I used the Jeremiah text as an example whereas we are reminded that God has carved us on the palm of His hand.

For us non-Third graders we recognize how terrible jealousy can be.  Like Joseph and his brothers, such a hateful Sin can lead to violence and division between peoples.  In some way or another we have had such feelings or been the recipient thereof.  In the Gospel such hateful feelings cause the tenants to believe that they can have part of the estate after they murder the son.  But that is what Sin does; it distorts the truth and draws us from God and others.

We are asked to consider the intense love that God has for us.  This weekend we will hear from St. Paul who talks about the cross and leads us to contemplate the Paschal mystery.  This understanding leads us into the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.  As John reminds us, God so loves the world that he sent us His Son.  It is this kind of love, this divine love, that is vastly more important than the attention and accolades which we might receive from one another. 

More so, we must understand that we are blessed and gifted.  We might not be able to run 80 yards for a touchdown, or be near to discovering the next new heart medicine, but our words, actions, and life has been immensely gifted and made sacred by God.  In some way, shape, or form we ae living witnesses of all that we have seen and heard of Jesus Christ.  In some way we coninue to bless others.  Perhaps this is what Paul was talking about when he considered that if one part of the Body hurts, we al hurt.  Each of us is essencial to the Body  of Christ.

In Jealousy we need to keep things in perspective.  Know that God's love and kindness are more awesome than we can  imagine.  God replies to us as our uniqueness implores Him.