We read in Scripture at Mass, “The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not. Cain greatly resented this and was crestfallen” (Gen 4:4-5).
The first sin, the sin of our parents in the garden, was the sin of pride. Pride led Adam and Eve to disobey God’s command. At its root, in sinning by pride, we place ourselves above God, revealing our self-centeredness.
In the very next chapter of Genesis, just after the fall, we discover the second great sin. In the story of Cain and Abel, we see envy arise and the hatred that flourishes when envy goes unchecked. When God preferred Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb to Cain’s offering, Scripture says that Cain was “crestfallen” and – even worse – “resentful.” Cain could have risen above this temptation, but instead of overcoming envy, he was overcome by it.
Envy is a disordered love, where someone desires what belongs to another rather than rejoicing in their good fortune. For this reason, it fundamentally opposes charity, which calls for goodwill toward others. It’s so destructive that Pope Francis has called envy a poison, saying, “Jealousy and envy open the doors to everything that is bad.”
Practicing gratitude and humility
So what do we do about it? First and foremost, we should practice gratitude. By cultivating a sense of gratitude for what God has given us and what he’s doing right now in each of our lives, we’re able to extinguish the fires of envy.
Second, by cultivating humility, it becomes easier to acknowledge our own limitations. Personally, I recommend getting a bunch of Dominican brothers around to help you. They’re very good at keeping you humble!
Let us pray,
O God, who teach us that you abide in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
