Jealousy and envy are two emotions which we need to be cautious and watch out for, since from jealousy and envy, many other sins could be committed. Envy means “to bear a grudge toward someone due to coveting what that person has or enjoys.” In a milder sense, it means “the longing for something someone else has without any ill will intended toward that person.” Jealousy means being “apprehensive or vengeful out of fear of being replaced by someone else.” This causes one to be “watchful, ” or “anxiously suspicious” towards others.
When we are jealous or envious, we could fall into the trap of trying to put other people down or even trying to get rid of them or destroying their reputation. We do such things because of our uncontrollable pride and ego, refusing to acknowledge the gifts and capabilities of others. In today’s reading, we see an example of how jealous and envious the adversaries of Jeremiah were, even to the point of plotting: “‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.'” Are we allowing jealousy and envy to consume us, making us commit hideous and heinous sins, all for our own temporary gratification, only to our eternal detriment?