Today's Reflections
http://graceandspace.org
Mt 7:15-20
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So by their fruits you will know them.”
Reflection:
Beware of false prophets.
In the Old Testament, prophets are persons who speak for God and in the
name of God. Prophets are bearers of God’s Word. The Gospel warns us to
beware of false prophets. But how do we distinguish false prophets from
true ones? Both may preach of love and mercy, appear meek and gentle,
and quote Scripture.
By their fruits you will know them, says
Jesus. Their character and the way they live their lives declare if the
prophets come from God. The words from their lips must find completion
in the works of their hands.
True prophets lead people to God and not
to themselves. If they are only after their selfish interests and are
motivated by popularity and glory, they are not true prophets of God. An
early Christian treatise, Didache (The Teaching of the Twelve
Apostles), gives a criterion for recognizing a true prophet. It says,
“If he stays for three days, he is a false prophet. Let every apostle
who comes to you be received as the Lord. Do not, however, allow him to
stay more than one day, or, if need be, two. If he remains for three
days, he is a false prophet. If he asks for money, he is a false
prophet. By his behavior, then, the false and true prophet shall be
known” (11, 4).
Anyone truly preaching and working for
Jesus is willing to accept the cross and carry it to the end, to serve
and work at the background. He is not afraid to preach that following
Jesus is the way of the cross and that being with Jesus entails
suffering and sacrifice. The true prophet shows and leads the way of the
cross.
What kinds of fruits am I producing for God and for my loved ones?
No comments:
Post a Comment