23/06/2021 Reflection 1205 (Fr Ashil Joseph OP on Matthew 7: 15-20) скачать в хорошем качестве

23/06/2021 Reflection 1205 (Fr Ashil Joseph OP on Matthew 7: 15-20)

Like us on Facebook at   / indiandominicans   write to us: dominicanministriesgoa@gmail.com Website: www.dominicans.in Dear brothers and sisters, Nature is always truthful. A sheep is always a sheep and a wolf is always a wolf. A fig tree would always give figs and never a thistle and a vine would always produce wine not thorns. So, we can identify them by a mere look unless there is some hindrance to our perceptions like lack of proper eyesight or lack of proper lightings. However, on their part, they would never deceive us. This is true regarding all the things of nature. They don’t deceive us. Hence Jesus tells the leaders of the people that they can interpret the appearance of the sky in Mathew 16:3. But there is one creature in nature that can appear to be something but in actuality, it could be something else within, that is a human person. We humans have the power to deceive. We can project ourselves to be something different from who we are. Hence, Jesus, today advises us to be careful about the false prophets. Prophets are those who speak to us on behalf of God, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many others. But false prophets are those who speak to us about God but their intentions are not Godly but worldly. Jesus compares them to wolves in sheep’s clothing. He also gives us an important tool to identify them. Just as a good tree bears good fruit, so does a good person who would bear good fruit. Hence, we can recognize them by the fruits they bear, that is, observing the lives they live. A prophet’s words are validated by the life that he lives. Though this passage is a help for us to identify if there are false prophets amongst us, it also invites us to see if I am a false prophet to others. All of us who are called by God and baptized into the Church has this obligation to preach Christ to others. Am I a Christian only in name, or only when it comes to matters that are on others’ lives, do I preach concerning morality and judge the lives of people around me but my life is far from good, or all that I do and say are merely an external show while internally I have another face? Then I too am a false prophet. How do I know if I am a false prophet? Just check the fruits that I bear. Observe my life for a day and see if my thought, words, and action are directed towards praising God, building up my community or my family, and growing in godliness. If so then I am bearing good fruits and I am not a false prophet. Otherwise, I need to be careful. #dominicanmediamission #DOMINICANFRIARSINDIA