Gossip

In the 5th chapter of Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, Paul who is wary about the seemingly eminent coming of Christ, exhorts the people to be vigilant, to be children of the day, to be awake and not asleep at the hour that Christ comes. But after these instructions he says, "therefore encourage one another and build each other up, as you are doing." 

Words are important. Paul realizes words of encouragement will help the Thessalonian community to live in vigilance until Christ came. These words of affirmation are life-giving and up-lifting. They are the kind of words that we need to give to each other in order to help each other best live out our Christian mission. 

But words can also bring a kind of death. Gossip. There is a huge question we should consider: When we are talking about other people what is acceptable and good and what is gossip? Fr. John Malign O.P.  in his homily today clarified that words about another person can be true or not true and helpful or not helpful. You should always avoid spreading any words about someone that are not true. This would be slander and lying. But just because something is true about someone does not mean it should be shared to the world. Just because Tim made a dumb comment in class does not mean that your friends at lunch need to hear about it. Unless what you are saying about another person is helpful, it should not be shared at all. The words you say about others should be helpful to the person you are talking about, helpful to the person you are talking to, and helpful to yourself. If not, you are spreading negative things about a person and unnecessarily reducing their reputation. There is no need for this use of words. Speak the truth in ways that are helpful, not harmful. Then you can be one of those who follows the advice of Paul to "build each other up."