Crosswords: The Puzzling Power of Words Week 2 Speak No Evil .09.17.06

In our second week we talked about gossip. Unfortunately gossip isn’t just something we grow out of but surrounds us in everyday life. We know it’s bad, but how do we deal with it? How do we approach gossip, refute gossip and escape being a part of gossip?
According to the Catechism:
2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:
– of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;

– of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
– of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.

The Bible says:
Proverbs 6:19 – The false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 11:13 – A gossip betrays a confidence…
Proverbs 18:8 – The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one’s inmost being.

According to Proverbs when we Gossip
We put friendships in jeopardy
We betray a person’s trust
And the worse thing is these evil words become a part of us and when they do they can do damage to us

John 8:4-11 -They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.”

In this passage we see the Pharisees and Scribes who should be preaching, serving, evangelizing God’s love but instead are up to no good. They find a woman in the midst of adultery. The only way they could have found this woman committing such an act is to be up to no good themselves. They are trying to stir things up, they are trying to get gossip going and they want Jesus’ input.
How does Jesus react? He ignores them, tells them not to judge and they go away. And Jesus the one perfect being who could have judged the woman gives her mercy and love.

When we are faced with Gossip we should react like Jesus by:
1. Walking away from Gossip
– gossip works when there is someone to tell it and someone to hear it.
2. Respond in kindness
1 Corinthians 4:13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly.
– when someone uses slander say something nice about that person.
3. Pray for the situation
– if you know someone is going through a tough time, or has fallen, don’t talk about it, pray for that person, ask God to intervene.

Reflect on this:
What do you think makes gossip so attractive?
What are the difficulties to refuting gossip?
How can we change how others speak?