Lenten Reflection for February 25th

I know a few people who are quite obsessed with certain celebrities. So much so that they will often post news, photos and videos almost every day on their socials in regard to the handsome or beautiful celebrity they like so much. Most of these people are married and I can’t help but wonder if it makes their partner feel self-conscious when they see the infatuation directed toward this ‘avatar’ they don’t even know personally. 

I have been reflecting on the ‘outward’ aspect of the Fruit of Chastity.‘Worldly’ desires start with seeing something we want, and can lead to jealousy or an entitled attitude of ‘why shouldn’t I have that too?’ Envy and a sense of entitlement can be harmful in a couple of ways. Firstly, it could drive us to impulsively take a negative action to obtain what we desire and end up hurting those around us.  Secondly, it can harm relationships because subconsciously we are thinking of ourselves as more ‘worthy’ than others and thinking of others as ‘lesser’ or less deserving.

It does us well to remember that our actions impact our environment, including other people.

We read in Exodus 20:17 the Lord’s commandment warns us to not covet anything our neighbour has. House, wife, slaves, livestock are a few examples in the verse. Thankfully we have the Laws the Lord has given us and through the inspiration of the Spirit, God has placed within our heart a sort of compass, an innate knowing of what is good and what is not good. 

Saint Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, “You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) Growing in the Fruit of Chastity will help us in showing God’s love to others, to share their joy rather than envy it.

For our younger brothers and sisters in Christ:

In the Old Testament of the Bible, God gives His people ten Commandments. One of these Commandments talks about how we shouldn’t covet what our neighbours have. Covet means to see that someone else has something we wish we could have and out of jealousy we want for ourself. 

This jealousy can be hurtful to our friends and neighbours if we choose to act out and get what we want in a negative way. It can hurt our relationship with them because, although we may not realise it, we are only seeing their worth through what they have rather than showing them love, as Christ would have us do.

Loving God helps us to want to live our lives in a Christ-like way. This means leaving behind feelings like jealousy and coveting and as Saint Paul says, “be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:23-24 New International Version translation)

In this way we can grow in Holy Spirit’s Fruit of Chastity, be happy for others and share in their joy, rather than be jealous of them.

God bless you!