Feast of Saints Thomas More, John Fisher and Paulinus of Nola.

THE SHOEMAKER  MAKES SHOES. THE TAILOR MAKES CLOTHES. THE PRIEST MAKES SACRIFICES.  THE TREE MAKES ITS KIND OF FRUIT. CHRISTIAN BEWARE OF TEACHERS AND PROPHETS WHO MAKE FALSE DOCTRINES.

"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.”  (Matthew 7: 15 - 20).

Wednesday 22nd June 2022, of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast day of three giants of the Christian Church:
St Paulinus of Nola (355 - 431). French Bishop. Over a thousand years separated him from the two English martyrs we honor today. St John Fisher (1469 - 1535). Bishop and scholar. And his friend, St Thomas More (1477 - 1535). Lawyer, Statesman and Chancellor of Exchequer of King Henry VIII. St Thomas More is revered all over the world as the patron saint of lawyers.
St John Fisher and St Thomas More were martyred under Henry VIII for refusing to compromise the teachings of the Church.

When a Bishop lacks the grace of fortitude of his high office, he succumbs to the threats of tyrants like King Henry VIII. That is what the world saw in the England of the 1520s. King Henry, one single man born of a woman succeeded in intimidating the whole the English hierarchy. About 300 Bishops denied their Catholic Faith. Only Bishop John Fisher stood up to him and stood his ground. He refused to deny his holy faith. St Thomas More a layman stood his ground too. Both men suffered martyrdom. Today both men are celebrated all over the world. Henry VIII, where is your kingdom? Where are your 7 wives?

The false prophets may dress and talk like the genuine one. But ask which Way of life they promote? The Broadway in all likelihood. Follow the Narrow Way as Jesus taught.

Our Lord and Teacher says that" "You will know them by their fruits."
Sometimes fruits take long in coming but they surely come. Look at religious people who abused children under their care. For some of them, the bitter fruits take decades to show but they come.

By contrast, the good fruits produced by good teachers and prophets are formed by the Holy Spirit and show up in the lives of good Christians. They are :

1. Charity   🍏
2. Joy        🍊
3. Peace     🍐
4. Patience 🍓
5. Kindness 🍍
6. Goodness 🥝
7. Generosity 🍉
8. Gentleness 🍎
9. Faithfulness 🍋
10. Modesty     🍠
11. Self-control 🌰
12. Chastity       🥔

The most destructive fruits of the false teachers and prophets are:
"Immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts and orgies." (Galatians 5: 19 - 21).

Beware of such teachers and prophets. You are warned. If you are uncertain of how to discern their fruits, ask a seasoned and approved pastor or teacher in your Church.

6. 22. "O SACRED Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. EUCHARISTIC Heart of Jesus, increase in us faith, hope and charity. HEART of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee. O DIVINE Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, free the holy souls in Purgatory." (Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus).

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com