Why gossip is so enticing

A Reflection for Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Find today’s readings here.

When it comes to Lenten sacrifices, you have your classics like sweets and alcohol. But some of my most challenging Lents have come when I’ve tried to give up something a bit more difficult to pin down—and to sustain that commitment throughout the entire season.

A few years ago I attempted to give up gossiping. I’m ashamed to say I did a pretty poor job. When I look at today’s readings I’m brought right back to that time, and I remember just how enticing it was to dip my toe into a bit of daily judgment, to blur the lines between story-telling and pure gossip. It was so easy for me to tell myself that I was just sharing important information, that I wasn’t actually hurting anyone, that that attitude of judgment would begin and end in this oh-so-satisfying secret exchange with a friend. But I also knew deep down that gossip was (and frankly, is) a weakness of mine, and that the bad habit I was forming was becoming more and more difficult for me to kick.

In today’s readings, that attitude of judgment extends far beyond talking behind someone’s back—and it leads to condemnation and even bloodthirstiness. In both the first reading and the Gospel, a woman is accused of adultery. While Susannah in the first reading from Daniel is falsely accused, the Gospel reading suggests that the (unnamed) accused woman is guilty. The first reading focuses on the taking of innocent life, but in the Gospel, Jesus is not so hung up on the condition of innocence.

The community knows that Mosaic law calls for the stoning of adulterous women, and they come to Jesus to test him on this point, asking him what he thinks they should do with her. In response, he is not prescriptive; instead of offering a clear and simple answer, he prompts them to reflect on their own sinfulness: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Everyone, then, is powerless to kill her. As they walk away one by one, only Jesus remains with the woman, but he does not use the power of his sinlessness to condemn or hurt her. He sends her off, encouraging her not to sin again.

Judgment and gossip are so tempting because the more time we spend thinking about the sins of others, the easier it is to lose sight of our own. We can talk and talk until we forget Jesus’ essential point, which is that none of us is free from sin, and in that way we are not materially different from the people who fuel our gossip. Perhaps today a worthy spiritual practice would be to repeat the words of Jesus to ourselves when we’re tempted to look with judgment on another person—“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” In this way, we’ll shift our focus away from that intoxicating distraction and instead look right into the center of our own souls.