"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

I think it was Thomas Aquinas who said that envy is really the dumbest sin because at least with the other sins you get some kind of pleasure in doing them.

Envy is the only "unfun" sin.

Interesting to contemplate. And yet envy is so very, very common.

As Fr. Ron Knott, founder of the IPP program here at St Meinrad, commented the other day, clerical envy is sadly rampant in presbyterates everywhere.

And it divides and embitters a group of priests who ought to be on the same team!

Our first reading today reminds us of this:

When David and Saul approached
(on David's return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang:

"Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands."

Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
"They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship."

And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.

A good reminder for us all to get rid of envy from our hearts, bit by bit, by celebrating the good things others do that we, well, can't!

mk