In today’s first reading, Sirach, the wise Jewish teacher, tells us to listen carefully to a person's speech for it reveals what is in that person's heart. He says, "When a sieve is shaken, the husks appear, so do one's faults when one speaks."

A person's speech, Sirach tells us, also indicates a person's education and moral upbringing. Just as the quality of fruit produced by a tree reveals the care that tree has been given, "so does one's speech disclose the bent of one's mind."

Jesus echoes the advice of Sirach in today’s Gospel passage from St. Luke. Besides teaching his followers they will be known by their actions, he also tells them their words will reveal the kind of people they are. "From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks."

We live in a culture where words have become increasingly nasty, cruel, crude, vicious and hateful; where words that were once censored are now said openly; where personal attacks, lies, gossip, and innuendo are hurled across the airwaves at those of differing views.

One of the most common ways in which we sin is through the misuse of the gift of speech. While it may be true that not every sin of speech is serious or mortal, it is possible to inflict great harm with speech and thus have the matter become very serious, even mortal. With this in mind, I would like to focus our reflection today on one particular sin of speech which seems to be very common (especially in ShopRite): the sin of gossip.

The sin of gossip is defined to be idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others. It is a sin against Justice because by it we unjustly harm the reputation of others, through either lies or truths shared inappropriately. The Catechism of the Catholic Church includes gossip under its treatment of the 8th Commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

St. Thomas Aquinas distinguishes several forms of gossip. First there is “reviling,” dishonoring a person, usually to their face, and often in the hearing of others. Since this is done in front of the person, it is not gossip per se, it is still a gave injustice to deliberately try to embarrass or dishonor another person.

Next we have the sin of “Backbiting.” Backbiting is the secret and quiet injuring of a person’s good name to others. There are two forms of backbiting; Calumny which is telling lies about someone behind their back, and Detraction which is passing on harmful truths about others. There may be times when it is important to share certain truths about others because it is necessary information but such information should be shared only by those who need to know it for a just cause. Further, the information must be certainly true and not merely hearsay. Finally, only the necessary information should be shared.

A third form of gossip is “Tale-Bearing.” Whereas a backbiter seeks to harm the reputation of another absent person, the tale bearer seeks to stir up trouble and arouse people to action against a person. Perhaps he seeks to have others end professional, business, or personal relationships with the one gossiped about. Perhaps his goal is to incite angry responses toward him, or even violence. Perhaps too, some legal action is the desired outcome. The tale-bearer seeks to incite some action against the one he gossips about, hence it goes further than the harming of reputation, to include the harming of relationships, finances, legal standing, and so forth.

“Derision” is making fun of a person, perhaps of their mannerisms, perhaps of a physical trait, or personal quality. While some of this can be light-hearted, it often strays into hurtful and humiliating actions or words that diminish someone else’s standing or honor within the community.

Finally there is the form of gossip called “Cursing.” Cursing is a spoken wish or command that another person be afflicted with some evil or harm.

We seem to live in a culture where people have forgotten that while it is true that only sticks and stones can break a person's bones – words can hurt. They can break the human heart. They can crush a person's spirit. They can devastate a person's self-worth beyond repair.

While we easily recognize the words that indicate that someone's heart is not right with God or right with their neighbor, we may not be so quick to notice what our words reveal about our own spiritual condition.

As Jesus asks us, "Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?" Or to put it another way, "Why do you hear their cruel words but are deaf to your own?"

In his life Jesus spoke words that brought healing, hope, forgiveness, mercy, and acceptance. His words came from his loving, compassionate heart. He spoke good words. He spoke Good News!

This Sunday we are challenged to consider our words. Those words reveal the condition of our hearts.