Meditation XIV: Jealousy of St. John the Baptist's Disciples

1st Prel. Behold St. John teaching his disciples, who are animated with a mistaken zeal for his glory.

2d Prel. Ask for forgetfulness of self, and a true zeal for God's glory.

POINT I JEALOUSY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST'S DISCIPLES

CONSIDERATION.— After the conversions and miracles which had taken place in Jerusalem, "Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and baptized. . . . Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples." This excited the jealousy of St. John the Baptist's disciples, and they went to him and complained, "Rabbi, He that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold He baptizeth, and all men come to Him." (St. John 3: 22, 26.)

APPLICATION.— We have here a proof that even good people are liable to envy, and that this passion sometimes puts on the appearance of zeal; for the zeal of the disciples of St. John for his glory caused them to view the success of Jesus and His Disciples with displeasure. Instead of rejoicing, they were grieved at it. Do we find nothing of the kind in ourselves? When good is done by some other order, or even when we find ourselves eclipsed and surpassed by one of our brethren, do we rejoice, or do we feel the sting of jealousy? Does not our readiness to blame and criticize answer for us?

AFFECTIONS.— At the feet of Jesus express your horror of jealousy. Pray that, through His grace, you may never yield to this passion.

RESOLUTIONS.— To all temptations of jealousy, reply in these words of St. Paul: "Dum Christus annuncietur, gaudeo sed et gaudebo." "So that by all means Christ be preached, no matter by whom, I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." (Philip. 1: 18.)

POINT II DISINTERESTEDNESS OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

CONSIDERATION.— St. John's disciples expected to find him share their feelings; but they were greatly mistaken. There is no envy in the hearts of the Saints; wholly detached from themselves and their own interests, they seek only the glory of God. This disinterestedness was most remarkable in the precursor of Jesus Christ: his only reply to the complaints of his disciples was to exalt Jesus and depreciate himself. "He that cometh from above is above all. I am sent before Him." "My joy therefore is fulfilled." (St. John 3: 31, 28, 29.)

APPLICATION.— How rare, even amongst Christians, is this perfect detachment and forgetfulness of self! It charms while it astonishes us in a secular person, but it is expected, and with good reason, from a religious. In what degree do we possess it? If we are thoroughly rooted in this virtue, we shall gladly hear and repeat the praises of those who are more highly gifted and more esteemed than ourselves. If we can not do this, we must conclude that we are not yet detached from the world and from ourselves.

AFFECTIONS.— An ardent desire to die to the world, and especially to self-love, whence spring envy and neglect of God's service.

RESOLUTIONS.— Say often with the Apostle, "To the only God be honor and glory!" (1. Tim. 1: 17.)

POINT III ABNEGATION OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

CONSIDERATION.— "Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui." "He must increase, but I must decrease." (St. John 3: 30.) St. John the Baptist carried his disinterestedness to the extent of a total abnegation of self. He not only loses sight of his own works, and rejoices in the still greater ones of Jesus, but he even desires that these last should wholly eclipse his own in the sight and esteem of the world.

APPLICATION.— If we desire to escape the attacks of vainglory and envy, we must, after this example, so completely subdue our pride as to aim at an entire abnegation of ourselves, and a desire to be forgotten and despised by others. We need not despair of reaching this perfection: all things are possible to grace.

COLLOQUY with the holy Precursor of our Lord. Beg of Him earnestly to obtain for us grace to see clearly how deceitful, fatal, contemptible, and criminal is the passion of envy. May he obtain for us grace to dread its approaches, and to overcome its attacks, so that dying to self-love, we may seek in all things only the greater glory of God.