Pope Francis: Jealousy and envy are the seeds of war

Source: Vatican News

During morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis spoke of the danger of jealousy and envy that can lead us to misjudge others. These two words, he said, are the "seed of war."

The Gospel reading of the day describes how King Saul's jealousy of David fades. Pope Francis said the king's jealousy comes from the fact that although he had killed ten thousand enemies, and David 'only' one thousand, the young women sang songs about David's victories. This, said the Pope, is where "the restlessness of jealousy" begins. As a result, the king sets off with his army to kill David.

"Jealousies are criminals," said Pope Francis, they are "always trying to kill." And to those who say "yes, I'm jealous…but I'm not a murderer," the Pope replies, "not yet."... "But if you continue it can end badly, because it is easy to kill, even "with your tongue, with slander."

Those who are jealous, said the Pope, are "incapable of seeing reality," and only "a very strong fact" can open their eyes. So in Saul's mind, "jealousy led him to believe that David was a murderer, an enemy."

When someone who is jealous finally encounters this "fact", this reality, said the Pope, "it is a grace from God." When this happens, "jealousy bursts like a soap bubble," because jealousy and envy have "no consistency."

He explained that jealousy is born of a conversation with oneself, misinterpreting things in a way that prevents us from seeing reality.

When God gives us the grace to see the reality of the situation, He invites us to look at ourselves, said the Pope. We must "protect our hearts from this illness, from this conversation with oneself."

We must "be careful" of this "worm" that enters each one of us, he said, adding that "when we feel this distaste for someone, we must ask ourselves why?"

Finally Pope Francis prayed to the Lord that we may have the grace of having a transparent heart - a friendly one, he added, that "seeks only justice" and peace.