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Reel Homilies

Why Envy Is Killing You Slowly

Episode Summary

What do Scar from The Lion King, the girls in Mean Girls, and Syndrome from The Incredibles all have in common?

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus talks about envy, and Fr. Tim starts by clearing up a common misunderstanding. Envy is not simply wanting what someone else has. More precisely, it is sadness at another person’s good, especially when we see that good as diminishing our own importance. Scar’s resentment toward Mufasa’s position and qualities can illustrate how envy turns another person’s good into a perceived threat. Mean Girls, Fr. Tim points out, includes many examples of comparison and resentment when someone else is admired or seems more blessed.

That’s why envy is counted among the capital sins. It doesn’t just sting for a moment. It can gnaw at the heart, breeding resentment and sorrow over time. The antidote Fr. Tim offers is simple but not easy: let Jesus remind you of your dignity and call you to live in his love. Instead of measuring yourself against what someone else has been given, receive with gratitude what God has given you.

Left unaddressed, envy can slowly destroy a person from within. Turning to God in humility and gratitude can free us from envy and lead us toward the healing Christ offers.

[00:00:00 –> 00:00:00] Mean girls

[00:00:00 –> 00:00:02] scarred from Lion King

[00:00:02 –> 00:00:04] syndrome from The Incredibles.

[00:00:04 –> 00:00:05] do they all have in common?

[00:00:05 –> 00:00:06] Envy.

[00:00:06 –> 00:00:08] Jesus talks about envy in the gospel? For today.

[00:00:08 –> 00:00:10] when we are envious.

[00:00:10 –> 00:00:14] It’s not that we’re jealous and we want something that someone else has.

[00:00:14 –> 00:00:15] Envy is

[00:00:15 –> 00:00:16] sadness.

[00:00:16 –> 00:00:17] When another person

[00:00:17 –> 00:00:19] has something good.

[00:00:19 –> 00:00:22] This is the crazy thing. Scar.

[00:00:22 –> 00:00:23] He is sad.

[00:00:23 –> 00:00:24] by Mufasa,

[00:00:24 –> 00:00:25] who he sees

[00:00:25 –> 00:00:27] as good and as strong.

[00:00:27 –> 00:00:28] And that leads to resentment.

[00:00:28 –> 00:00:31] In Mean Girls, that’s literally the whole movie is envy.

[00:00:31 –> 00:00:38] I am sad because I’m not like this other person. I am sad because they are blessed in this awesome way

[00:00:38 –> 00:00:41] This is why envy is a deadly sin, because

[00:00:41 –> 00:00:45] it gnaws at our heart and it causes resentment and it causes sorrow,

[00:00:45 –> 00:00:46] the antidote to that.

[00:00:46 –> 00:00:48] Let Jesus be the one

[00:00:48 –> 00:00:51] that affirms you. Let Jesus be the one that lifts you up.

[00:00:51 –> 00:00:53] envy will literally kill us.

[00:00:53 –> 00:00:58] But letting God affirm us, that’s what’s going to save us. This is spirit juice. Peace.

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Key Takeaways

  • Envy and jealousy can overlap, but envy is more precisely sadness at another person’s good, especially when we see that good as diminishing our own importance.
  • Scar’s resentment toward Mufasa’s position and qualities can illustrate how envy turns another person’s good into a perceived threat.
  • Mean Girls includes examples of comparison, resentment, and the desire to diminish others because of their perceived advantages.
  • Envy is counted among the capital sins because it can produce resentment, hatred, detraction, and sorrow over another person’s prosperity.
  • The remedy for envy is to let Jesus remind us of our dignity and call us to live in his love, rather than measuring our worth against what someone else has.
  • Left unaddressed, envy can damage a person from within. Turning to God in humility and gratitude can help free us from it.

What This Means for Prayer and Daily Life

Notice the next time you feel a flicker of sadness at someone else’s good news, a promotion, a relationship, a talent, or a blessing you don’t have. That flicker is worth paying attention to instead of ignoring or indulging it.

Ask honestly where that sadness is coming from. Envy often hides behind comparison, quiet resentment, or a sense that life isn’t fair, so it helps to name it plainly when you notice it.

Instead of ignoring or indulging the feeling, bring it to Jesus directly. Ask him to purify your desires and help you rejoice in the good of others.

This week, when you notice yourself comparing your life to someone else’s, try turning it into a short prayer instead: “Jesus, remind me of my dignity in you. Help me receive with gratitude what you have given me, and rejoice in the good things you have given to others.”

A simple prayer for this week:

“Jesus, when I feel the sting of envy, remind me that my dignity rests in your love. Free my heart from resentment, and help me rejoice in the good things you have given to others.”

FAQ Section: Envy, Comparison, and Letting God Affirm You

The terms can overlap. More precisely, envy is sadness at another person’s good, especially when we see that good as diminishing our own importance.

Envy is more precisely called a capital sin. It can gnaw at the heart over time and lead to resentment, hatred, detraction, and sorrow over another person’s prosperity.

Scar’s resentment toward Mufasa’s position and qualities can illustrate how envy turns another person’s good into a perceived threat.

The movie includes examples of comparison, resentment, and the desire to diminish others because of their perceived advantages. These can help illustrate how envy works.

Turning to Jesus in humility and gratitude. Instead of measuring your worth against what someone else has, receive with gratitude what God has given you and ask for the grace to rejoice in the good of others.

Notice moments when you feel sadness at someone else’s good fortune. Name the feeling honestly, bring it to Jesus in prayer, and ask him to help you reject resentment and rejoice in the good of others.

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