JOIN USSt James in his letters which we find in the New Testament says in chapter three that it is a very uncontrollable organ of our body. The whole chapter is worth reading and reflecting. It is with the tongue we praise our God; it is with our tongue we curse and utter bad words against our neighbour. It is almost as if sweet water and bitter waters flowing from the same fountain. We often do not think but allow anger to get hold of us and then we let a tirade of words fly without even thinking. All our hidden resentments take shape in wounding, hurting words. The pity is: having spoken them we cannot take them back. Though they say: “He was made to eat his words,” in consolation to the person who has been hurt by the words but it remains that the words have been uttered!
Scripture also says how destructive slander can be. Slander is worse than a simple burst of anger. It is premeditated murder of some one’s character. It is above all a blatant lie. The book of Sirach in chapter 28 describes how destructive slander can be: “The Evil Tongue: if you blow on a spark, it will glow; if you spit on it, it will be put out; yet both come out of your mouth. Curse the gossips and the double-tongued, for they destroy the peace of many. Slander has shaken many, and scattered them from nation to nation; it has destroyed strong cities, and overturned the houses of the great. Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes, and deprived them of the fruit of their toil. Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest, nor will they settle down in peace” (Sira 28.12-16). So what should you do if you have been slandered against? Should you react in anger? Should you defend yourself? Sometimes it seems to be necessary especially if you are a public figure. Often enough it is not worth reacting. If the truth of your life stands clear then why do you worry and lose the peace of your mind. Let the public decide for itself.
An interesting feature is that the slanderer does not reflect for a moment that perhaps a similar fate lies for him. Someone else may slander him in turn and he would reap many fold what he had sown. Sometimes it happens that we give in to unfounded suspicion and what is a conjecture turns in a slanderer’s mouth as a proven fact. A malicious slander is when the person knows that what he says is a blatant lie and yet he does not hesitate to utter it and even spread it around with glee enjoying the discomfiture of the recipient and also at times to take revenge. Ask the Lord to help you to avoid slander. Wish good for every one and good will come to you manifold. Wish evil and evil will abound and poison your mind and also the environment around you!