Love is not jealous
95. Saint Paul goes on to reject as contrary to love an attitude expressed by the verb zelói - to be jealous or envious. This means that love has no room for discomfiture at another person's good fortune (cf. Acts 7:9; 17:5). Envy is a form of sadness provoked by another's prosperity; it shows that we are not concerned for the happiness of others but only with our own well-being. Whereas love makes us rise above ourselves, envy closes us in on ourselves. True love values the other person's achievements. It does not see him or her as a threat. It frees us from the sour taste of envy. It recognizes that everyone has different gifts and a unique path in life. So it strives to discover its own road to happiness, while allowing others to find theirs.
