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Religious jealousy can hit lots of people who’re striving for holiness, even a non secular sister like myself. And in the event you’re trustworthy and deeply self-reflective, you could end up feeling unhappy or irritated when folks look to others for religious recommendation or gush about one other individuals’ virtues. Don’t fear, you’re not alone.
Typically I’ve bouts of religious jealousy; although I by no means act on it, it’s disconcerting to me when these emotions go by my coronary heart. I do know it’s not proper and that they stem from the roots of self-importance and satisfaction. Wanting my coronary heart and soul to be as clear, honest, and lightweight as might be, I need nothing that’s towards love of God and neighbor to darken it.
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Pleading with Jesus, my Partner, I took it to prayer. The following morning, throughout my Lectio Divina, I invoked the Holy Spirit and turned to a web page in my bible. It fell on the start of the Gospel of John. Studying into it, I felt a little bit nudge in my coronary heart once I was studying about John the Baptist.
“What are you telling me, Lord?”
Then reflecting additional, I remembered my prayer from yesterday… John the Baptist was the reply!!
“He should develop higher, whereas I develop much less.” (Jn 3:30)
If somebody has excellent “Jesus-like qualities,” I ought to have a good time and even level out their instance to others for that individual advantage they’re displaying… not in an obnoxious manner after all, however acknowledge the holiness that others see in them. I ought to make my “self” disappear and follow self-forgetfulness and step apart so others can see the sunshine of the opposite that shines brighter than me in order that the darkness of self-importance and satisfaction vanishes and solely sincerity and lightweight stay in my coronary heart. Then I could be a extra stunning and clearer mild and bride for Christ.
So, in the event you’re susceptible to religious jealousy, don’t lose coronary heart… pray for the grace of God by the intercession of St. John the Baptist and he’ll aid you as he helped me. And do not forget that God has a predilection for tiny, weak, and insignificant souls. Be small and film Jesus in thick robes embracing and hiding you whilst you relaxation on his breast. Let those that are round you which might be higher in advantage be honored, whilst you relaxation within the deepest humility, belief, and intimacy on His Sacred Coronary heart… completely happy that you simply, by your tininess of soul and who enjoyment of others, have develop into dearer to the Coronary heart of Jesus.
A prayer I composed to St. John the Baptist to be rid of religious jealousy:
O humble St. John the Baptist,
Best of the prophets of previous,
And subsequently attuned in coronary heart to the Holy Spirit,
Pray that the Holy Spirit communicate to me within the depths of my coronary heart additionally in order to convict my coronary heart and soul of it’s nothingness earlier than God.
Let it rid my coronary heart of all jealousy, self-importance, and satisfaction that I’ll step apart in order that others can see the higher lights folks possess that imitate our Beloved Jesus of their advantage.
Could they develop higher, and I, subsequently rejoicing of their holiness, develop much less, however ever dearer to my Jesus.
Amen.
St John the Baptist, pray for us.
Picture credit score:
The Baptism of Christ by Tintoretto, Public area, by way of Wikimedia Commons
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