Jeremiah 18:18-20 / Matthew 20:17-28
There is no doubt that gossips and rumours are always slanted towards the juicy and sleazy.
The damage that they do cannot be underestimated, as ripple effects can always turn into tidal waves when gossips and rumours go viral.
One possible outcome could be what we heard in the 1st reading when the evil doers were plotting against the prophet Jeremiah and even intending to take his life.
Because Jeremiah had spoken the Word of the Lord against them, and now as he feared for his life, he could only plead with the Lord to rescue him.
Jesus also made it known to His apostles that He would be handed over to the chief priest and scribes and they will condemn Him to death and they will hand Him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified.
Well to follow Jesus and to proclaim the Good News and to fight against evil in people and in world, we have to be prepared to go through what Jesus went through.
We might complain like Jeremiah did - Should evil be returned for good? Remember how I stood in Your presence to plead on their behalf, to turn Your wrath away from them.
Yes we will complain when vicious rumours and gossips are hurled behind our backs when we try to do what the Lord wants of us.
But just as Jesus came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many, let us do likewise and not let resentment lead us into sin.