WEDNESDAY, TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
2 Kgs 22:8-13, 23:1-3 Ps 119:33-37,40 Mt 7:15-20
GOOD PEOPLE PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT
A prophet speaks on behalf of God. A false prophet claims to speak on God’s behalf when in reality he is lying. Jesus warns that these false prophets will appear innocent and harmless, they will come to us in sheep’s clothing, but they are not harmless. Their appearance is deceptive and their effect is deadly. Inwardly they are ravenous wolves. They will destroy and consume our souls to get what they want. And most of us who are eagerly waiting to experience God without imitating Christ, are the targets of false prophets. They come to take us away from God, keeping the evil one in their hearts. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles. So, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. The good and bad trees represent good and bad men, or more specifically true prophets and false prophets.
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. The fruit Jesus describes is Christlikeness or what Paul later termed ‘the fruit of the Spirit.’ Whenever we see in a teacher the meekness and gentleness of Christ, his love, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control, we have reason to believe him to be true, not false. On the other hand, whenever these qualities are missing, and the ‘the works of the flesh’ are more apparent than the ‘fruit of the Spirit’- especially self-indulgence, we have reason to believe him to be false.”
We are here not to judge the person but to save our souls from the wrong person, who claims to be the messenger of God. Remember that Jesus, though he was in the form of God, emptied himself and remained in obedience to God the Father. The false prophets always strive to be independent ministers in the name of God, performing miracles and preaching. But we as the children of the Holy Catholic Church, imitate Christ, by showing our obedience to His Bride, the Church. As we know from the mouth of God, obedience is greater than sacrifice.
Response: Lord, teach me the way of your statutes..
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