I once got into trouble because of gossiping. A friend shared with me some malicious information about one of our friends. Then he told me not to tell anyone else. But just a few seconds later, I realized I could not resist the temptation of passing on this information to someone. I shared the story with a trusted friend and likewise told him to keep it confidential. Unfortunately, that person too shared the information with another person until it reached the one being gossiped about. That was very embarrassing, and I regret what I have done.

Pope Francis said that gossiping is a plague worse than Covid and that the devil is the "biggest gossiper" who seeks to divide people and even the community. A gossip is like the unclean spirit in the Gospel, it can get stronger and easily spread to other people. However, Jesus is more powerful and, with authority, he commanded the evil to come out.

Indeed, a gossip does nothing good. It only creates conflicts and division. The Gospel challenges me to resist Satan's schemes and deceptions in my daily life. Just as Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to be quiet, I believe that I, too, can defeat and overcome the influence of the evil in my life for as long as I hold on to Him, take his Words into my heart, and faithfully obey His commands.

By: Sem. Roldan B. Baliano

Today's Gospel

Lk 4:31-37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
"What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out."
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.