DAILY- HOMILY

June 26, 2019 - WEDNESDAY, 12th Week in Ordinary Time
Green.

Gn 15: 1 – 12, 17 – 18 / Mt 7: 15 – 20

FROM THE 1ST READING: Gn 15: 1, 18
After this the word of Yahweh was spoken to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid Abram, I am your shield; your reward will be very great." . . .

On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram saying, "To your descendants I have given this country from the river of Egypt to the Great River, the Euphrates."

GOSPEL READING Mt 7: 15 – 20
Jesus said to his disciples, "Beware of false prophets: they come to you in sheep's clothing but inside they are wild wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Do you ever pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

"A good tree always produces good fruit, a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit. Any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in to the fire. So you will know them by their fruit."

REFLECTION
In the first reading, God repeats to Abram his commitment to the promises he had made to him. He not only repeats his promise to make a great nation out of his posterity, but he seals this promise as well with a covenant in which he tells Abraham he will take the initiative. Unlike what most people think, God often takes the lead in our growth as Christians by sending people, events and graces to keep us on the right track. Knowing that God keeps his promises, we just have to listen and recognize his actions in our lives.

The Gospel reading warns us to watch out for false prophets who come "in sheep's clothing but inside are wild wolves." We can be deceived by their seemingly good actions covering up their selfish and evil intentions. We ought to be cautious of people who look innocent and harmless as sheep but in reality possess vicious and wicked hearts.

How do we recognize a false prophet from a real one? "So you will know them by their fruit." As Jesus said, "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a rotten tree cannot bear good fruit"

A true prophet leads us on the path towards Christ. If we live by the teachings and example of Christ, we become the good tree bearing good fruit. Our Christ-like actions bear abundant fruit of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These fruits when shared bring forth the Kingdom of God.

The following of Christ is free of hypocrisy and trappings. All we have to do is to love him and allow ourselves to be loved by him.

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST.


Have a good day!

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