Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
Readings: Ti 1:1-9; Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6; Lk 17:1-6
Summary
People love gossip.
The catechism describes the causes of this way of falsehood.
- Malice – the intention or desire to do evil; ill will.
- Guile – cunning intelligence.
- Insincerity – the quality of not expressing genuine feelings.
- Slander – the action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.
Does not our conscience sting when it asks us to own the malice, guile, insincerity and slander we consumed as a regular diet these past 100 days? We swallowed them whole.
Reference: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/596/#zoom=z
This is also a recognition that after our human attempts may fail, we can still entrust our brother who is in error to God “in silence and prayer,” he added. “Only by being alone before God can the brother face his own conscience and responsibility for his actions,” he said. “If things don’t go right, prayer and silence for the brother and sister who is wrong, but never gossip.”
Reference: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/45730/pope-francis-pleads-with-catholics-not-to-gossip
Reflection
Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur.
Personal Reflection
Gossip is a corrosive liquid that seeks out every small place and sits in that place corroding the integrity of the place without even a movement. It’s presence is simply enough to damage. Even more so those who would stir it up. We need, I need, to start demanding truth from our leaders. Enough of the bombastic language. Real issues, real lives demand truth.
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop had to deal with real problems that required honest, and truthful consideration. Martin’s worry about cooperation with evil reminds us that almost nothing is either all black or all white. The saints are not creatures of another world: They face the same perplexing decisions that we do. Any decision of conscience always involves some risk. If we choose to go north, we may never know what would have happened had we gone east, west, or south. Source: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-martin-of-tours/#google_vignette
I doubt mass deportation would have been approved by this bishop.
In our sacred readings today it is clear that those who are prone to gossip are not suitable for the priesthood or episcopate.
Sacred Readings
Full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111124.cfm
First Reading
Priests
Appoint presbyters in every town, as I directed you, on condition that a man be blameless, married only once, with believing children who are not accused of licentiousness or rebellious.
Bishops
For a bishop as God’s steward must be blameless, not arrogant, not irritable, not a drunkard, not aggressive, not greedy for sordid gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, temperate, just, holy, and self-controlled, holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents.
Responsorial
Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
Gospel Acclamation
Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life.
Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard!
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry