Today’s gospel teaches us the importance of lovingly correcting each other’s behavior. A healthy relationship always involves honestly. Wouldn’t you be grateful if someone helped you change a bad habit?  I personally would want to know if I was hurting someone. And yet, being directly honest with one another can be challenging. But guess what folks, Jesus never promised us an easy life. Then again, how can we tell if someone is trying to help or just being a gossip?

Gossip can be defined as is a story about people that is designed to hurt, not rescue, and spread among people anonymously.

How can I recognize a gossiper from a compassionate person just trying to help?
Well, first ask yourself is what you are hearing designed to help or hurt?  
Does there seem to be a sincere desire to for accurate truth about all involved?
Did the person talk directly to the all involved as Jesus told us to do in today’s gospel?
And finally, what if the stories you are hearing were about you?

Jesus asked His followers to judge based on what they saw and heard from their own eyes and ears, this alone can help us avoid gossiping. Jesus calls us to be compassionate and understanding.  Even if we have to walk away from the situation we should do so with love and respect.  After all remember how Jesus treated the Gentiles and the tax collectors?  Shouldn’t we do the same?

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae

I just love Peter, don’t you? He gives us so much hope because even as close as he was walking with Jesus, he was still learning. How is it that one minute Jesus is singing Peter’s praise because of his profound spiritual awareness and the next minute is rebuking him for thinking in worldly terms. Isn’t that the way our Christian prayer life is, filled with ups and downs, highs and lows or desolations and consolations? Sometimes we get it right and other times we fall short.

Just like Peter you and I are showered with amazing grace and unfathomable mercy each and every day. Remember we are all children of God and His light shines in all of us, yes, God forever dwells in you and me and He will never abandon us. He will take care of all our needs, even when we fail to embrace the cross and fail to trust in Him.

Peter shows us that it is okay to fail and it is okay to try again. Peter eventually gets it. Right? He embraces the cross with a love for the Lord that goes so deep, he too is crucified for our faith. Jesus will never abandon us and like Peter, we will eventually understand the beauty of the cross. So if you are a little slow like Peter, have faith, never give up and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who knows you, understands you and loves you unconditionally.

Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time, be blessed, Renae