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Are we truly following Jesus and all His teachings? Are we truly His disciples? Or have we abandoned some of His doctrines? Have we lacked faith and conviction to seek out the truth?

Is performing miracles in Jesus name by the grace of God important or following God’s Will? To worship only Him and to love and serve our neighbour, our brethren?

The love of our Lord Jesus Christ is calling out to us today. Not to be fooled and led astray by worldly values but for us to build our foundation on Him, His love. A commitment to embrace Him wholly. He is our rock and through the foundation we build through the depth of His love from within; cannot be contained but poured out for all. We are perfected in Him; holy in communion. Amen

GOSPEL Matthew 7:21–29

Jesus said to his disciples:“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Who are the false prophets amongst us? Are they those who preach their own interpretations of scripture which lead others away from the Church? Away from the Church that Christ Himself established? To start their very own Church? Do they cause strife instead of unity? Are they those that lead others away from Christianity all together?

Or are the false prophets amongst us those who are give outward appearances of piety? outward show of reverence? Who fast outwardly and give alms? But lead others away from their faith by their actions and their words? By their hypocrisy? Do they gossip? Do they snap at others in irritation or anger? Are they secretly plotting against another? Are they vengeful? Spiteful? What are their fruits?

By virtue of our baptism we too are called to be prophets? Are we false prophets ourselves? By our very own behaviour? By the way we lead our lives?

Are we fruitful? Do we lead fruitful lives? Or do we give excuses for not being fruitful? Do we just say we don’t know our faith enough? Or that we are not good at talking or sharing? We are introverts by nature? We say we will act one day but that day never seems to come? What happens then to those who are in our midst and who were hungry to know God? Those who needed Jesus desperately in their lives? Those who needed hope? Those who needed help?

What would you do if you love apples and decided to plant an apple tree in your garden,  you care for it, nurture it and it grows into a crooked tree without any apples whatsoever. What would you do with the tree?

Let us pray…

God our Father, you feed Your people with the finest wheat and give us water to drink from the rock, who is Christ. Sustain all those who hunger and thirst for You. By Your grace, may all of us by our virtue of our baptism grow in our love and in our faith; that we may be fruitful in every word and deed so as to glorify You and build Your heavenly Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen   

GOSPEL Matthew 7:15–20

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. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.”