From The Pastor's Desk……

September 28, 2003

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

What a difference a single letter can make!  Take the words "jealous" and "zealous."  Each word is spelled exactly the same way with the exception of the first letter.  Yet, what a difference!

Webster's International Dictionary defines the word "jealous" as: "exacting exclusive devotion, intolerant of rivalry."  The same dictionary defines the word "zealous" as: "warmly engaged or ardent...especially  in behalf of an object as zealous service."

The focus is different.  One is focused on oneself when jealous, while a zealous person is focused on something other than himself or herself.  Our Scripture Readings for this 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time tell us that in doing God's work, there is no room for jealousy.  When seeking to promote God's Kingdom and its values of justice, peace, and unity, you can't be jealous and zealous at the same time.  Nevertheless, often we get the two mixed up.  That's because our focus is wrong.  An example of this is found in our Second Reading (James 5: 1-6) where we see the effects of selfish greed and unconcern for others.  This is in contrast to the example of a correct focus presented in today's Gospel (Mark 9: 38-48) where Jesus admonishes us to risk all rather than jeopardize the eternal salvation of others. 

Jealousy is often the result of feeling insecure --- of being left out.  Those who are zealous for God's Kingdom, however, find their security in Jesus' promise in today's Gospel: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward."

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Ray Tintle, OFM
Pastor