HOMILY: 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

HOMILY: 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

THEME: Beware of false Prophets!

BY: Fr. Justus Oruh

(a) Jesus warns us to beware of the false prophets. Who spew out false teachings like fire only according to their desires; to suit their demands in life; to win attention and followers; to make money; to make name. They speak out their wishes and cravings and claim that “God sent them”. Deceiving in the name of God. Book of Deuteronomy says, “that prophet must die.”

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(b) Beware of them. It does not suffice to have knowledge “about” God and to be versed in the Scriptures, do miracles to become a prophet. The devil knows more and confesses; “I know who you are. The only Son of God”, which is perfectly true. The truth and profession of the Messiah which was revealed to Peter, not by flesh and blood. We see, the devil even professes God and trembles too before him (James 2:19). Despite the deep knowledge and confession, Jesus said to the devil, “be quite”. Some teachers and the so called prophets, these days online, twist the true knowledge, looking real, even cast out devils in God’s name but only confuse people. Their tongues profess what is true, what seems to have happened or will happen but like the devil, they are enemies of Christ. We know them by where their teachings tend to, namely, to severe man from Christ, to diminish the desire and love for God and ONLY exalting the human capabilities. This is humanism and the displacement of God which the modern online false prophets and teachers are using. Today, they have become so many, making so much noise in the internet. To such prophets we say like Christ, “be quite”.

(c) Having brought them to silence, the book of Deuteronomy promises, “I will raise up prophets like me” Prophets like Christ. By Baptism we share in the prophetic role of Christ. We are all prophets and prophetesses. So we know, a prophet is not one who sees tomorrow and perform wonders rather one who makes known among men the will of God by saying it, believing it and doing it. In this sense, Christ is the fulfillment of the Prophecies. We are, by Baptism raised to be prophets like Christ who bring false prophets and teachers to silence by simply making efforts loving one another and doing God’s will. Beware of false prophets!

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