Are you able to share with your friend, or a family member, or even a next-door neighbor, your joy at their having some great blessing come their way? Or if they received something that you really wanted? Can you still share your happiness with them, or do you become envious or maybe even angry? Perhaps you fake a big smile, congratulate them, and say that you are happy for them. But there is still jealousy inside of you. Why her, why him, why not me? God blesses each one of us in this life, and He knows what is best for us and that’s why we don’t always receive what we pray for. However, this should not stop us from sharing joy of others and at the same time appreciate what we have, since there are people that don’t have even what we possess. I like this story about the birth of John the Baptist, and one thing from today’s reading particularly caught my attention. We read: “When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.” Saint Luke doesn’t tell us that Elizabeth’s neighbors and relatives envied her; they didn’t get upset wondering how come she is so blessed, and we are not. No! But they simply rejoiced with her. Can you simply rejoice with others’ happiness?
