When I first became a priest I suspected that some of the more intimate conversations I would have with members of my flock would include dark admissions of sultry secrets told in titillating detail.

But what I found is that the most pressing questions people had revolved around vocational anxiety, a deep wondering about who we are and what we are called to do.

It's because today, more than ever, we have more opportunities, more possibilities, more chances to become, to do, and to be. The thought that we only get to do one or two or even up to six of these in a lifetime is incredibly limiting to say the least, and certainly the source of no small amount of anxiety.

This anxiety frequently gives birth to jealousy - that ugly predilection we have to worry about losing what we have to someone else - like a co-worker or significant other.

This Sunday we will hear two stories of jealousy, from both Testaments, where followers of God became jealous of others who sought to follow God a different way.

The Divine advice in these instances is the same as it is to you and me: the key to getting over jealousy is to think more about who we are and what we have and less about what we aren't and what we don't have.

Now more than ever we need effective practices that reinforce these suspicions of our hearts, which is that we are more capable and cared for them we suspect.

maybe that's prayer, maybe that's going to church, maybe that's writing a journal whatever works.

But jealousy is always a sign of our disconnection from our purpose and our calling: we will feel less threatened by others the more deeply rooted we are in God.