False Prophets
False Prophets
Gospel Reflection for June 26th, 2024
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits, you will know them.’” Matthew 7:15-16.
Today, Our Lord gives a stern warning against those who would set themselves up as prophets but preach a false Gospel. These false prophets come in many different disguises, but all have the same intention, and that is to lead others to their personal interpretation of the Gospel. This can come from heretical preachers peddling a perversion of the Gospel, for instance, the so-called “Prosperity Gospel”, it can come from those who are claiming a false apparition and accompanying messages, from someone sitting behind a webcam and publishing videos on YouTube, it can even come from leaders in the Church who are leading their flock astray. These are just some examples of what Our Lord desires to warn us about.
He warns us because of the fruit of these false prophets. The fruit that comes from them is division, heresy, selfishness, pride, and the like. Ultimately, they lead to damnation. These false teachers lure the faithful in as they appear like sheep but underneath that façade is a wolf waiting to devour the soul.
Thus, we must be diligent in who we listen to and what messages we hear. The false teachers spread their heresy for all to hear, seeking to raise themselves to a stasis of fame, wealth, or power. They deny rightful authority, especially that of the Holy Father, and seek to place themselves in lieu of him. Because of this, we must be careful of which mediums we choose to pay attention to. YouTube stars who only seek to divide but put up a veneer of orthodoxy are easy to follow but will lead us to a place of disobedience.
Our Lord follows up this warning with the consequences of the false prophets:
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 7:19.
We should shudder at this warning. Those who are in positions of teaching, leadership, or authority should take this to heart. The fruit of division, heresy, and schism that pervade the present day are Satan’s weapons to steal our souls. We must remain vigilant, united to Holy Mother Church, firm in prayer, and sustained by the sacraments if we desire to save our souls. From the narrative of Noah’s Ark to many visions regarding the church, many times, She has been depicted as a ship out to sea searching for safe harbor. The faithful are called aboard as wayfarers seeking their home in the promised land of heaven. We must remain in the boat if we ever hope to see safe harbor. The false prophets are forever working to draw us out of the boat, onto the crashing waves, seeking the ruin of our souls.
Resist them. Trust in the Lord and His promises. Bear good fruit. And by God’s grace, you will save your soul.