Memory of the Saints and the Prophets

Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people acquired by God
to proclaim his marvellous works.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Matthew 7,15-20

'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. Can people pick grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.

 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

You will be holy,
because I am holy, thus says the Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Jesus puts his listeners on guard against the danger of being attracted by false prophets, that is, against those people or a way of life that seem easier and more immediate, but which, in reality, steals life like ravenous wolves. The many "charmers" come to mind; people who in many parts, especially in the poorest countries preach what it is called "the religion of prosperity." It is a deceiving preaching that does not save; rather it misleads and damages people. So Jesus also warns the disciples to be well in guard from the Pharisee behaviour, a way of living one's faith only in appearance or of conforming to the world's selfish mentality, which has a virus is damaging the connective fabric of our society. This mentality has infected many Christians who think they can close up in their small enclosure. This is one of the reasons why mercy has become rarer, love is drying up, and the passion to change the world is withered, conflicts have become harsher. Indifference and resignation to evil are growing. It is easy for all of us to be seduced by a life without dreams or visions. And we must not forget that temptation - all temptation - always seems flattering and reasonable, exactly like wolves in sheep clothes. But how can we unmask them? Jesus gives us an unfailing test: "You will know them by their fruits." All the thoughts and ideas that make our lives barren, bearing no good fruit for ourselves or others, are false prophecies. The apostle Paul lists the works that are born of those who let themselves be guided by the carnal spirit, that is love for oneself: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, and carousing. And then he immediately lists the works that flow from those who let themselves be guided by the Spirit and the Gospel: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. He closes, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit" (Gal 5:19-26).