How am I to know that I shall possess it?

 

We fall into the traps of false prophets because what we seek is our desires, not God.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 12th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of St. Irenaeus, June 28th, 2023
Texts: Genesis 15:1-12.17-18; Psalm 105:1-4.6-9; Matthew 7:15-20 

The message, today, is about how to know God’s unfailing promise and false prophet. God shows in today’s first reading that Covenant is a way of knowing that He will fulfil His promise. We read, “But he said, ‘O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?’ ... On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river of Euphrates.’” Covenant becomes the seal of God’s promise, a guarantee that such promise never fails.  It is, therefore, an affirmation of God’s faithfulness to His words.  

Jesus Christ, in today’s gospel reading, instructs us on how to know false prophets. He says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” He describes false prophets as those who come to us in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Hence, we cannot know them by appearance but by the contents of their hearts. They are deceptive and manipulative. They are pleasers of people, telling us what we want instead of what God says.  Their soothing words deceive us. 

What we seek is our desires, not God

We fall into the traps of false prophets because what we seek is our desires, not God. Whoever seeks God cannot fall into the hands of false prophet, for he will always find God. God says, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). Those who are in the traps of false prophets, today, are those who are seeking what they want. The prospect of getting job or financial help is what determine the Church I now attend. The search for God no longer determine my faith or Church. 

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Irenaeus. He was bishop of Lyon. He converted many pagans to God by his preaching. His writings were used to combat heresies  in the Church. He died a martyr.  

Prayer 

O God, who called the Bishop Saint Irenaeus to confirm true doctrine and the peace of the Church, grant, we pray, through his intercession, that, being renewed in faith and charity, we may always be intent on fostering unity and concord. Amen 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke