Envy

In Mark's fifteenth chapter, verse 10, we read,

For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over.

Why envy? Why does Mark feature this fault in the αρχιερειs, the chief priests, and not some other fault? Some of the insights from men:

1. Dave: the chief priests were envious because they were losing adherents.
2. Jim: they envied Jesus because Jesus had answers -- they didn't.
3. German: It was because God the Father was with Jesus. German compared the situation to the parable of the prodigal son, especially the elder, faithful son, who was envious of his father's generosity to the prodigal son. It is a good comparison, one shared by another German, Pope Benedict!
   
   And what of the elder brother? Is he not, in a certain sense, all men and women as well; perhaps particularly those who sadly distance themselves from the Church? ...Unable to think beyond the limits of natural justice, he remains trapped within envy and pride, detached from God, isolated from others and ill at ease with himself.
4. Sal: Envy goes along when pride starts to move. It is like the enemy falling through the sin of pride, compared to the Messiah who won the victory in humility.
   
   For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.
   But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it.

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