Presence

I place any concerns I have in God’s hands – at least for these few minutes of prayer.

Scripture Reading

Sirach 28:13-14 NRSVue

Curse the gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many. Slander has shaken many and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities and overturned the houses of the great.

Reflection

How does it go? Gossip is when we hear something we like about someone we don’t. Idle gossip can ruin reputations, destroy lives, and make enemies out of friends. Do I enjoy talking about others? Do I call it something other than gossiping? Am I too ready to jump into a conversation about someone else, sharing information that isn’t mine to share? Today, I thank God for a heightened awareness of what is being said around me and for the strength to withdraw from and put a stop to malicious gossip about others. 

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew my heart and my mind. May I repent of any time I have engaged in gossiping, and may I resolve, with your help and by your grace, to hold my tongue rather than to spread gossip, even if that means feeling excluded at times, or disapproved of by others, for not joining in… May I have reverence and respect for each person Lord, for each life. Amen.