Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Rosalie and St. John Bosco Parishes,

Grace and Peace be with you all as we strive to follow the Two Great Commandments given to us by Jesus in today’s Gospel.

All we must do to merit heaven is found in the words of Jesus: Love God with your whole heart, mind, and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Sounds so simple, but it is the work of a lifetime.  These words from Jesus must not only be known but through constant effort must also be lived in our daily lives.  We cannot be satisfied with the lives we are now living.  No matter what stage of holiness, or lack thereof, that we find ourselves living -- Jesus calls us to a deeper experience of love for Him expressed in our prayer life and in our love, care, and concern for our neighbor. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
How often do we fail when we do not give God priority in our lives?  How often do we fail when we speak and treat others in ways that we would not want them to treat us?

Our words and actions can either be uplifting for ourselves and others, or they can be hurtful. These words and actions can either be a source of grace for us and our neighbor, or they can be an offense against our God and our neighbor.

Today, let’s reflect upon our speech.   St. Paul tells us in Chapter 4 of his Letter to the Ephesians: “Say only the good things people need to hear; things that will really help them.”  Paul’s words are an excellent criterion for our spoken and written words.

One area, which many consider trivial, is the area of gossip.  Going to an online dictionary, I found the following definitions of gossip:
      1. The private information about others shared in conversation and print.
      2. To tell secret information to another person.
      3. A person who chatters or repeats idle talk and rumors, especially about the private affairs of others.
      4. Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational or intimate nature.
Gossip may pass the time of day – but does it really help us and the people we are gossiping about?

Everyone is entitled to his/her privacy, good name and reputation. Gossiping which does harm in these areas is a sin of injustice. With a proportionately grave reason, one may reveal what we know is true about a person.

The focus of the 8th Commandment is falsehood that does injury to one’s neighbor.  Harm to another person’s reputation is the special prohibition of this divine mandate (The Catholic Catechism by Fr. John Hardon).

Detraction and calumny or slander are sins against one’s neighbor and against God’s 8th Commandment.  Detraction: the unjust violation of the good reputation of another by revealing something true about that person. Calumny or slander is an unjust violation in that what is said about a person is not true.

Lord, help us to follow the admonition of St. Paul to the Ephesians: “Say only the good things people need to hear; things that will really help them.”  

God loves you!
Fr. Mark