Gossip is a seductive and enticing poison. Many of us fall for its lure and its intoxication. We may think we feel better about ourselves by putting someone else down, we may be jealous of what another has, envious because we wish someone ill, maybe someone just rubs us the wrong way, or the intent may not be hurtful, but we just get caught up in discussing the happenings of others. We may feel justified in choosing to gossip when someone has hurt, offended, or wronged us in some way. Even in that instance, we observe Jesus offering a different approach in today’s Gospel.
Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone” (Mt 18:15). Jesus is drawing on his Jewish heritage. Leviticus 19:17 warns against holding hate in your heart and instead encourages seeking to reason with your brother. Jesus is redirecting us from adding fuel to the fire by seeking revenge, stewing in our own hurt, and/or defacing others which will build resentment and hate. Instead, he is inviting us to seek reconciliation.
Pope Francis, in his General Audience back in September 9, 2016, was very clear: “[G]ossip is a ‘terrorist’ who throws a grenade – chatter – in order to destroy,” he added. “Please, fight against division, because it is one of the weapons that the devil uses to destroy the local Church and the universal Church.” Let us refuse to be a weapon of the devil in his plot to divide us with our thoughts or our words, but instead, seek to be a disciple of Jesus by advocating for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Jesus commands us to be more discerning with our tongue. With our words, we can cut, wound, and destroy, or we can convict, reconcile, and heal. St. Paul encourages us to let no evil talk pass our lips but to instead only say the good things that people need to hear. We have the choice before we speak of what words we let loose. We can choose words that tear down or choose words to lift up and empower. It is easier to grumble about someone with others in the shadows, rather than to approach them in love, hold them accountable with constructive criticism, forgive, and pursue the harder work of reconciliation.
If we are not quite ready for that, Pope Francis invites us to “bite our tongue” instead or we can choose to pray about the situation with someone we trust: “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18-20). When we turn to Jesus and support from one another, instead of giving into the temptation to gossip or seek revenge, he will give us the strength not only to resist the temptation of furthering hurt and division but heal and guide us so that we can seek to win back a brother or sister.
Photo credit: Rosary walk under the Spanish moss last Saturday evening through Riverside Park, Vero Beach.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 