Monday, April 21, 2008

1Cor 3, 1 I could not talk to you as spiritual people

1Corinthians 3
(1Cor 3, 1) I could not talk to you as spiritual people

[1] Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ.
(CCC 2539) Envy is a capital sin. It refers to the sadness at the sight of another's goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself, even unjustly. When it wishes grave harm to a neighbor it is a mortal sin: St. Augustine saw envy as "the diabolical sin" (Cf. St. Augustine, De catechizandis rudibus 4, 8 PL 40, 315-316). "From envy are born hatred, detraction, calumny, joy caused by the misfortune of a neighbor, and displeasure caused by his prosperity" (St. Gregory the Great Moralia in Job 31, 45: PL 76, 621). (CCC 2540) Envy represents a form of sadness and therefore a refusal of charity; the baptized person should struggle against it by exercising good will. Envy often comes from pride; the baptized person should train himself to live in humility: Would you like to see God glorified by you? Then rejoice in your brother's progress and you will immediately give glory to God. Because his servant could conquer envy by rejoicing in the merits of others, God will be praised (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in Rom. 71, 5: PG 60, 448).

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