What role does gossip play in your life? Some people gossip for fun. Others avoid gossip at all costs. And still others have been forever impacted by the poison of gossip. 

Narcissus of Jerusalem was in the latter camp. 

At first it seemed like everything was going well for Narcissus. He was a great bishop of Jerusalem. He was behind many important decisions during early Church history—including the council that decided that Easter should always be celebrated on a Sunday. He was also known for performing miracles, especially one moment where he turned water into oil during the Easter Vigil to light the church’s lamps. 

But none of this stopped people from trying to ruin his reputation. He was falsely accused of serious offenses. They damaged his reputation so badly that he had to withdraw from public life. But Narcissus didn’t let this impact his faith. He forgave the people who stepped on his reputation and he trusted God. Years later, after three different bishops had taken on the role, Narcissus returned to Jerusalem and the people clamored for him to be reinstated.

No matter who you are or what you’ve done, we’ve all been impacted by the damage of gossip. The power of speech is unfathomable. Gossip can never be undone. It is cruel, divisive, and demeaning. It alters the way people see another person forever. It robs the victim of dignity and opportunity.

Let’s look now at the harm gossip causes us. Gossip hardens our hearts. You have to harden your heart toward a person in order to gossip about him or her. But when we harden our hearts toward one person, we harden our hearts toward all people, including ourselves. This is just one way gossip dehumanizes us. Gossip attacks our own self-esteem. Pointing out the faults and imperfections of others only draws attention to our own faults and imperfections. 

Gossip is a destroyer of relationships. When we gossip, we are announcing to the world that we speak maliciously about others, that we are insecure or feel threatened, and that we cannot be trusted. Gossip divides and destroys. 

We’re called to imitate Jesus in all things—including the way we speak about others. Jesus wouldn’t gossip about you. He would speak with truth, with love, with justice, and with kindness. Could people say the same about you?



Feast Day: October 29 

Feast Day Shared By: Saint Felician

Patron Saint of: Vineyards, Vintners, and Winegrowers

Symbols: Holding a Thistle in Blossom