Brothers in Competition

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Psalm 133:1 NKJV

Today's society emphasizes competition and individual success, fostering a culture of rivalry and confrontation rather than collaboration and solidarity. Our children are immersed in environments where the strongest, most gifted, and best prepared prevail, from school desks to sports fields. They must make room for themselves at the expense of the weakest, who are prey to anxiety and discomfort and often engage in destructive behavior. While competition can be useful in stimulating growth and innovation, when it becomes the dominant value, it can lead to negative consequences such as a loss of community and belonging, increased anxiety, and decreased empathy and compassion. Unfortunately, this also happens in family contexts, and the Bible offers us stories from its very first pages of brothers competing with each other, leading to violence. Conflicting feelings, interests, jealousy, and so on remind us that quarreling is part of our experience: Cain and Abel (Genesis 4), Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25-36), Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37-50), to name a few. Paradoxically, blood ties become a difficult obstacle to overcome when misunderstandings touch the deepest chords of the soul.

In thehumus of these stories, there may be an intention to show human nature and the consequences of sin, to highlight the importance of God's grace and redemption, to convey lessons about faith, trust, and relationships. The desire to obtain the blessing of the heavenly Father, as well as to be in the good graces of one's parent, is the element that triggers tensions and conflicts between siblings. In the case of Cain and Abel, this desire leads to jealousy and rivalry in the sacrifices between the two, culminating in the murder of Abel. In the case of Esau and Jacob, the paternal blessing is the subject of contention and manipulation around the principle of primogeniture. Jacob's preference for Joseph creates envy and resentment among the brothers. Parents play a fundamental role before, during, and after. They remain the main reference point for each individual, while in the age of social media they seem to be the first rivals, increasingly inclined to lower themselves to the level of their children rather than contribute to their growth. We see them playing complicit roles, far removed from the parents in Genesis. With Jacob, it is his mother who helps him prepare the dish his father Isaac desires and guides him in deceiving his father's eyes. As an adult and father himself, Jacob gives Joseph a colorful tunic that causes the others to become jealous. Parents, let us be careful!

Let us reflect on the need to manage our relationships in a healthy and constructive way. Instead of attributing the cause of quarrels and divisions to God, we should recognize that the source is often our inability to work together and love one another as God wants us to (1 John 4:8, John 13:34-35). When there is strife and division among us, we are not living according to God's love and grace. Recognizing our responsibility can be an important step toward reconciliation and building healthier, more loving relationships.  It is important to find a balance between competition and collaboration, teaching young people solidarity and cooperation by promoting a culture of love and service among young people. Families and communities should work together to promote values of solidarity and love among young people; instead, they sometimes seem divided and focused on their own interests, sending mixed messages about what is important and what is right. In a world where we are led to believe that the only way forward is to sharpen our weapons and throw ourselves into the fray, some species of insects (bees, ants, termites) teach us altruism and a very high level of organization. United by the fact that the individual is capable of subordinating everything to the good of the colony, these insects remind us that the struggle for life involves mutual aid not only within one's own species, but also between different species. If the Bible is not enough, let us listen to Creation.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #31

July 28, Psalms 46-48; Acts 28

July 29, Psalms 49-50; Romans 1

July 30, Psalms 51-53; Romans 2

July 31, Psalms 54-56; Romans 3

August 01, Psalms 57-59; Romans 4

August 02, Psalms 60-62; Romans 5

August 03, Psalms 63-65; Romans 6