Good Jealousy

In today’s first reading (2 Cor. 11:1-11), St. Paul says to the Corinthians, “I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God...”

Human jealousy focuses on the feelings of the person who is jealous. The jealousy of God, however, focuses not on God’s feelings but on the good of the one who strays: for there is no other god – no other absolute Good - but God, and no other source of ultimate salvation except Christ.

Being human as we are, it is easy for our feelings to get in the way (even St. Paul gets a little “worked up” in this passage) when people stray or stay away from God and Christ.

Sometimes these feelings can become a barrier in themselves: turning people off unnecessarily and not letting them hear the gentle voice of the Spirit leading them to the truth and to recognize Christ as the way to eternal happiness.

Are we jealous with the jealousy of God? Or are we mired in the jealousy of man?