BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS (HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 12WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JUNE 2022

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

2kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3; Mathew 7:15-20

Dearest brothers and sister in Christ, King Josiah after hearing the contents of the Book of the law, we are told, tore his garment, summoned the elders of Judah and Jerusalem, priests, prophets and all the people of high and low degrees. He read to everyone all that was said in the Book of the covenant found in the Temple of the Lord. Standing beside the pillar, he made a covenant to follow the Lord and keep his commandments and decrees, with all his heart and all his soul. And all the people joined in the covenant (2 Kings 22: 8-13; 23:1-3). Beloved in Christ, in 2kings 21:20-22 we are told that king Amon, the father of King Josiah was a very wicked king who was evil in the sight of God. The grandfather of King Josiah, by name king Manasseh was equally evil and pernicious and committed all sorts of atrocities before God. Nonetheless, King Josiah differed in morality and sort the ways of God, renewing the demand of God's covenant upon the land.

Dearest friends in Christ, one may be a child of bad parents and grandparents and yet make a willful decision to be a good grown-up. It is all about the choices and commitments we make in life. So also a Christian may be surrounded by negative environments but make the capital decision to stand out on morality and lead a God-fearing life. Josiah made that decision, not to worship the idols of his parents and grandparents but chose to serve the true living God. Consequently, we must not be deterred from remaining a good Christian and serving the almighty God even if we are surrounded by evil and all worth not. Let us remain firm in faith and morals despite all odds.

In the gospel reading, Jesus admonishes us to be wary of false prophets. The subtle thing about false prophets is that they mimic the authentic prophets. Externally, they appear like true prophets and within they are ravenous wolves. If you are not cautious you not be able to tell the difference. It is like what our people in local parlance use to distinguish products: “original and China”. Most times they look alike but substantially they vary from one another. It is like those who seemingly lead a pretentious life but within are ravenous wolves. Jesus tells us that by their fruits we shall know them, for a sound tree produces good fruits and a rotten tree bad fruits. Friends in Christ, let us be cautious about those who desire to make crooked the paths of the Lord, those who try to obliterate the doctrines of the church. Even if they claim to be baptized, they could be ravenous wolves acting otherwise. 

We pray that God will continue to enlighten our understanding and strengthen our faith so that we may not be victims of the ideologies of false prophets who seek for faiths to destroy. 

Have fruitful day!

Fr Remi osj