What causes wars, and what causes fightings among you? Is it not
your passions that are at war in your members?
You desire and do not have; so you kill. And you covet and cannot
obtain; so you fight and wage war.
You do not have, because you do not
ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on
your passions.
James 4:1-2
The 9th and 10th commandments state that:
You shall not covet your neighbours wife.
You shall not covet your neighbours goods.
The Catechism
of the Catholic Church says that all sins against the 10
commandments should be confessed - specially those against the 9th and
10th commandments which are more deadly than the others. I was
surprised to read this because if we look at it, these two commandments
are sins of the mind. The person has done nothing outside of his body
- YET. But the Church teaches that these are the most dangerous of all
sins! Why?
Because these two sins lead a person to commit the other sins.
Coveting a neighbours wife leads to adultery - which leads to lying -
which leads to stealing and sometimes murder. Coveting a persons goods
leads to stealing and lying - sometimes slander and murder.
Coveteousness is not limited to material things. It could be
non-material things like prestige and power. I agree with the Church
when it speaks out on moral issues like abortion and same-sex
marriages. However, I believe that her leaders should also speak out
against graft and corruption and cheating - which I think are also evil.
How many times do we see people cheat, lie and sometimes kill to
gain what they want? This does not only happen in secular politics.
Sadly enough, this also happens within Christian Churches - perhaps not
the killing part, I hope!
In a community, there is bound to be disagreements. Sincere
disagreement is expected and should be encouraged. Paul and Peter had a
disagreement. Paul and Barnabbas quarrelled over Mark. Jesus himself
had disagreements with the leaders of his time. These disagreements are
good because these are moments of teaching and learning.
James clearly shows us three signs that we need to be watchful as a
community:
First sign: pride or arrogance. If a leader demands submission and
believes that they have all the answers, this is a clear sign of
danger. This was how these cults began - where hundreds of the members
were killed by their leaders. If the persons heart is right, there
will always be submissiveness towards one in authority. Although he had
disagreements with Peter, Paul presented his case to the Peter and
the apostles in Jerusalem. We also read
that he visited Peter, James and John to confirm his teachings.
Second sign: intrigues and gossip. When there are lies or
confidential matters being leaked out - that is another danger signal.
Intrigues happen because the people who start them know that they
cannot stand when confronted. So they act like the devil - who works in
secret and who loves secrecy.
Third sign: Little or shallow prayer life. A community that is not
centered on the Word of God and on the Bread of Life is not a Catholic
community. Leaders should be committed to praying the scripture and
adoration of the Eucharist. The question is simple, how can one preach
if one does not know Jesus? How can one lead if one does not know where
to go?
I pray that our community will continue to grow in holiness. I pray
that our leaders will continue to have humble hearts to learn and
listen to Jesus. I pray that we all will have devotion to Jesus in the
Word and the Eucharist so that we can indeed grow in holiness - for the
glory of the Father.
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