Posted on 05/19/2013 2:33:42 PM PDT by NYer
.- Pope Francis spoke today about how gossip by Christians is a “slap” to Jesus “in the person of his children.”
“All three - disinformation, defamation and slander - are sins! This is sin! It is to slap Jesus in the person of his children, his brothers,” the Pope said May 18 in the chapel of St. Martha’s House.
The topic game up in Pope Francis’ homily because of the day’s Gospel reading from John 21 in which Peter asks if John will be alive when Jesus returns to earth.
?“What is it to you?” the pontiff began his homily, referring to Jesus’ response to Peter, who was being tempted “to interfere in the lives of others.”
Peter became “nosy,” Pope Francis remarked, noting that there are two ways people are tempted to get involved in others’ lives. The first is “to compare oneself with others” and the second is to gossip.
“It seems nice to chat,” he reflected, “I do not know why, but it looks nice. Like sweet of honey, right? You take one and then another, and another, and another, and in the end you have a stomach ache. And why? The chatter is like that eh? It is sweet at first and it ruins you, it ruins your soul!”
The Pope then referred back to Genesis, saying that gossip is “‘a little’ like the spirit of Cain who killed his brother, his tongue; it kills his brother!”??The consequence of gossiping is that “we become Christians of good manners and bad habits,” he warned, later repeating the description.
According to Pope Francis, people fail in this area in three ways: by giving “misinformation,” by making known the faults of others, and by telling lies about others.
“That is why Jesus does with us what he did with Peter when he says: ‘What is it to you? Follow me.’ The Lord in this instance points the way,” he said.??
“This kind of talk will not do you any good,” the Pope stated, “because it will just bring to the Church a spirit of destruction. ‘Follow me!’ These are the beautiful words of Jesus, it is so clear, that he has so much love for us. As if to say: ‘Don’t have fantasies, believing that salvation is in the comparisons with others or in gossip. Salvation is to go behind me.’”
Pope Francis finished his homily by saying, “Today we ask the Lord Jesus to give us this grace not to ever get involved in the lives of others, not to become Christians of good manners and bad habits, it is to follow Jesus, to walk behind Jesus on his way. And this is enough.”
Ping!
I struggle with gossip, especially at work. By God’s grace, I will overcome this weakness.
Frequent confession helps. I’m glad Papa Francis is talking about this.
“All three - disinformation, defamation and slander - are sins!”
Uhmmmm...No they’re not Mr. Pope.
In fact they are valid tactics
But still they are sins.
Gossip is like slapping Jesus, Pope asserts
And faggotry is like abusing him.
The Pope should be more concerned with the board in his own eye. imho.
And so is murder but, God allows killing in wartime or self defense
How is it that you know what the person sins of the Pope are? How do you know what boards he might have in his eye?
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HoneysuckleRose
Since May 18, 2013
God I LOVE gossip . . . OOPS I mean yeah gossip is bad. :-)
I think the only time it can help is if someone is being truly harassed by something regarding the other person and they are looking for an empowering Godly solution to work through it so they can move on to a more open spiritual solution.
So for instance if a person at the office place is being abusive and others share they have experienced the same thing. Thus allowing the group to know they are not alone. Then the group may discuss individuals positive solutions to move on and get about a productive, Godly way of life and not live in the resentment which is like acid. Just my two cents. I always ask myself, "where is this conversation going? Is it just to harass another or is it leading to one of the two talking being more at peace and empowered in a Godly way?" If it is the former, I generally steer the conversation away to another subject that is the latter.
That’s an easy ting to say to a moral teacher: “Be more concerned about the board in your own eye.” I often think that. In other words: do not call me to repentance for my faults and sins.
But I’m assuming it’s OK to say nice things about someone behind their back? I like to do that, but will cease if that counts as gossiping or involving myself in someone else’s life.
Thanks!
I think of the comments are positive, then that dosent count. Gossip is bad because it damages someone’s character. Think the fifth commandment: thou shalt not kill. Gossip detracts from someone’s character or reputation, whether what’s being said is true or not. I believe that is what the Holy Father is referring to. Having a conversation behind someone’s back in which you say “she has good taste” or “she’s always helpful” isn’t the same.
So in other words, keep on keepin on. You’re safe!
"Did you see Mrs Jones' hot new boyfriend?" lol.
Even worse "Mama wants one too!!" Is that envy, just drooling, or coveting thy married neighbors . . . boyfriend? My guess. All the above.
The term gossip usually refers to malicious gossip.
“But gossiping CAN’T be a serious sin, since it’s something that I do! The really bad sins are things OTHER people do!”
Thank you, your holiness.
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