There lived years ago a famous potter by the name of Josiah Wedgwood. He was especially renowned for his beautiful vases. One day there came to his pottery a wealthy customer. Wedgwood asked his office boy, a lad of fifteen years, to show the visitor through the plant. The stranger was just as filthy as he was wealthy, filthy in his talk and remarks. He cursed and swore. At first the lad was shocked, but gradually he began to laugh at his guest's remarks.
Accidentally Wedgwood heard some of this off-color conversation. The famous potter picked up an unusually beautiful vase. He called attention to the variety of colors and the gorgeous designs. The visitor was delighted. He reached out to look at it himself. Just as he touched it the potter let it fall to the ground-purposely. The precious vase broke into a hundred pieces.
"What's the idea?" shouted the visitor. "I wanted to buy that vase."
"Friend," replied the old potter sternly, "there are things more precious than any vase, things that can never be restored once they are ruined. I can make another vase like that, but you can never make another clean heart, another simple faith like that which you have taken from the boy working for me."
What an effective way to show the wickedness of scandal. Giving scandal is breaking the beautiful vase of a clean mind and an upright life. When we consider the Fifth Commandment we must realize that the words, "Thou shalt not kill," forbid us to injure our neighbor in body or soul.
To destroy a soul is much worse than to destroy a body.
Yet, scandal, or giving bad example, is one of the most frequent sins. It is far-reaching in its evil effects.
Scandal means any word, act, or omission which can or does cause another to commit sin. It is not necessary to have the intention of giving bad example. It is sufficient that the thing done or omitted be such as to lead others into sin.
Neither is it necessary that the thing done be sinful, as long as it has the appearance of sin. Nor is it required that the person scandalized be good or innocent, or that he actually fall into sin.
Scandal is direct when it is intended to lead others into sin. It is indirect when it is not intended to lead others into sin, but is an occasion for sin. Scandal may be given by words or actions which are not bad, but which may be misunderstood as bad by those who are weak. Even from such scandal we are bound to refrain.
1. We scandalize in words when we speak, for example, against religion or the clergy, or when we blaspheme, curse, swear, or indulge in immodest talk. That is the type of scandal of which the rich visitor in my story was guilty. He is guilty of scandal in words who makes known to others evils of which they were ignorant, who commands, advises, promises, praises or threatens others into sin, which they would otherwise not have committed.
Here we think of those who recommend birth control, especially to young couples, and of those who suggest certain unprincipled doctors for illegal and unnatural operations.
2. We scandalize in action when our conduct knowingly leads others to evil, when we provide occasion for sin which others would not otherwise have. Examples of this are working on Sunday, misbehaving in church, quarreling in public, violating the laws of fast and abstinence before others, indecency in dress and behavior.
3. Scandal is given by omission when we neglect to do what is required. Examples are missing Mass on Sunday, neglecting confession and Communion, failing to train children in their religion, or to correct and watch over them.
In a word, scandal is given whenever the Commandments of God or of His Church are publicly broken. No wonder our Lord cried out: "Woe to the world because of scandals!" St. Matthew, 18:7.
4. Scandal in itself is an exceedingly serious sin, because:
A. It harms the soul of our neighbor. Murder kills the body; scandal kills the soul.5. The seriousness of scandal depends on three things:
B. Even after the death of the scandal-giver his evil work continues.
C. It is the work of the devil himself.
A. The intention - he who intends bad example is more guilty than he who does not intend it.Listen to our Lord speak of scandal:
B. Scandal is more serious on the part of those in authority, especially parents, priest, bishops, politicians, and teachers.
C. The evil which results from it.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it were better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." St. Matthew, 18:6.
Scandal-givers twist the words and wishes of Jesus as He tells us to go and make disciples of all nations. The scandal-giver goes out and makes disciples, not for Christ, but for the devil. Like the visitor at the pottery, he destroys something more beautiful and precious than the most valuable vase - he destroys a soul.
Examine yourself today. Don't do the work of the devil. Work for Christ. Amen.
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Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)
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