Perhaps one of the sneakiest sins in the 21st century is the sin of gossip. We all do it. I am sure we have all had times at various jobs when we have sat around the water cooler and talked about coworkers or talked about what certain members of our family are doing that we don’t agree with. The reason this sin is so sneaky is because we may think to ourselves that it is not actually harming anyone. The person we are talking about doesn’t even know we are talking about them so no harm no foul right?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus would seem to disagree. He makes the claim that it is not what enters man that defiles but what comes out of him. He even lists some of the sins He is speaking of including murder, unchastity, blasphemy and many more. The point He is making is that the things we say and think are at a closer level morally to what we would call grave sins. We may think we are doing well in the spiritual life and not sinning in a “big” way, but gossip tears our brothers and sisters down and slanders the good name they are entitled to.
I think it is very important to focus on this part of our lives. This could be as simple as leaving the room when people start to gossip or sharing positive things about the person who is being talked about. We are called to love God first and neighbor second. I think one of the tangible ways we can stand up for our neighbors, even when they may annoy us, is by defending the good name they are entitled to. In this way we start acting less like the Pharisees and more like a disciple.
This is not an easy task because this is one of those sins that gives us a dopamine hit. There is something about talking and laughing about someone as a group that feeds our egoism and blindly makes us feel more important and superior. I am going to try a new approach any time I am starting to get pulled in this direction of either standing up for the person in question or leaving the situation and saying a prayer in my head that their day will be blessed. Let us ask for the grace to love our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in every moment, even when it would seem more fun to gossip.
From all of us here at Diocesan, God bless!
Quizás uno de los pecados más furtivos del siglo XXI es el pecado del chisme. Todos lo cometemos. Estoy seguro de que todos hemos tenido momentos en diversos trabajos en los que nos hemos sentado frente al dispensador de agua y hemos hablado de compañeros de trabajo o de lo que hacen ciertos miembros de nuestra familia con lo que no estamos de acuerdo. La razón por la que este pecado es tan furtivo es porque podemos pensar que en realidad no está dañando a nadie. La persona de la que estamos hablando ni siquiera sabe que estamos hablando de ella, así que no hay daño, ¿verdad?
En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús parecería estar en desacuerdo. Afirma que no es lo que entra en el hombre lo que contamina, sino lo que sale de él. Incluso enumera algunos de los pecados de los que habla, incluyendo el asesinato, la impureza, la blasfemia y muchos más. Lo que quiere decir es que las cosas que decimos y pensamos están en un nivel moral más cercano a lo que llamaríamos pecados graves. Podemos pensar que estamos bien en la vida espiritual y que no estamos pecando de manera “grave”, pero el chisme destroza a nuestros hermanos y hermanas y calumnia el buen nombre al que se merecen.
Creo que es muy importante centrarnos en esta parte de nuestra vida. Esto puede ser tan sencillo como salir del salón cuando la gente empieza a chismear o a compartir cosas positivas sobre la persona de la que se está hablando. Estamos llamados a amar a Dios primero y luego al prójimo. Creo que una de las formas tangibles en que podemos defender al prójimo, incluso cuando nos pueda molestar, es defendiendo el buen nombre al que se merece. De esta manera empezamos a actuar menos como los fariseos y más como un discípulo.
No es tarea fácil porque es uno de esos pecados que nos da una dosis de dopamina. Hay algo en hablar y reírse de alguien en grupo que alimenta al ego y nos hace sentir ciegamente más importantes y superiores. Voy a intentar un nuevo enfoque cada vez que empiece a sentirme atraído hacia esta dirección, ya sea defendiendo a la persona en cuestión o abandonando la situación y rezando mentalmente para que su día sea bendecido. Pidamos la gracia de amar a nuestros hermanos y hermanas en Cristo en todo momento, incluso cuando parezca más divertido chismear.
De parte de todos nosotros aquí en Diocesan, ¡Dios los bendiga!
Tommy Shultz is a Business Development Representative for Diocesan. In this role he is committed to bringing the best software to dioceses and parishes while helping them evangelize on the digital continent. Tommy has worked in various diocese and parish roles since his graduation from Franciscan University with a Theology degree. He hopes to use his skills in evangelization, marketing, and communications, to serve the Church and bring the Good News to all. His favorite quote comes from St. John Paul II, who said, “A person is an entity of a sort to which the only proper and adequate way to relate is love.”
Feature Image Credit: Thriday, https://unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-people-standing-around-talking-to-each-other-rjx4A724IuI
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
Former NPS Park Ranger, Catholic educator, and Youth Minister, Melissa Lucca now spends her days evangelizing family and neighbors as a stay-at-home mom. She holds an MA in Theology from the Augustine Institute and pursues personal study in her spare time. Melissa loves Ignatian Spirituality, Mother Mary, and rock climbing. If you don’t hear her and her kiddo laughing at home, then they are probably out on an adventure!
Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: 
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Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The 
Kimberly Andrich writes from the perspective of having a hidden, chronic illness and experiencing a deep, continuous conversion through being yoked to Jesus in the day-to-day trials and joys of life. She is a wife, mother of 5, and daughter of the King. Kimberly also writes for 
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