The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 7:15-16

This sorry world of ours is full of false prophets; it is full of corrupt people who promise you one thing but deliver another. Look at the promises some politicians make! Look at the promises some religious leaders make! And, then look at how they deliver on their promises?

The Lord tells us in today’s gospel to beware of such people and to judge them, not by what they promise but by what they do: by the fruits of their actions. “A good tree”, He tells us, “cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.”

The real test of a person’s character is how he or she acts, especially when faced with trials or opposition. A person who acts in accordance with the gospel of Christ will recognize a true prophet.

The bible describes the difference between a false and a true prophet. A false prophet tries to lure people away from God (Deuteronomy 13:1-4). A true prophet (Christ) leads people to God by example. Christ describes himself as the good shepherd for the good shepherd leads his flock and will lay down his life for his flock.

The voices of false prophets today can be very subtle and far-reaching. We face a daily torrent of biased information, invective and hate on television; and we are offered almost everywhere, hollow promises of happiness that would consume all our time in frivolous pursuits of excitement and pleasure.

In the midst of all this devious propaganda, which vies for our attention and money every day, it is difficult to hear the still, soothing voice of the true prophet. Our hearts can get lost in a spiritual maze, if we are not able to distinguish the true voices from the false voices in society.

It is only by listening to the word of the Lord in scripture and by putting it into practice that we will be able to discern His voice from the many false voices of the “ravenous wolves” in the world who seek to devour our money, our time and our very lives.

Spending time each day to meditate on His word, as you are doing right now, will fulfill you in ways that the false prophets of this world could not possibly imagine.

Fr. Hugh Duffy