Beware of "pseudo-Christians" and “pseudo-prophets". "It’s true, they do good things, it is true, but they lack the rock”. They lack "the rock of the love of God, the rock of the Word of God." And without this rock "they cannot prophesy, they cannot build: they pretend, because in the end everything collapses." An example of our day is Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who "did not speak, and was able to listen in silence" and "did so much."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Speak, do and hear" are the three words that distinguish true from false prophets. And people perceive, knows "when a priest, a bishop, a catechist, a Christian has the consistency that gives him authority", as was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The pope said Francis homily of the Mass celebrated this morning in Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the Gospel passage today in which the people follow Jesus amazed because He teaches as one who had authority, and not as the scribes

Francis said Jesus "admonishes his disciples" to beware of "false prophets." He then explains how to discern "where there are true prophets and where there are pseudo-prophets", "where are the true preachers of the Gospel and where are those who preach a gospel that is not the Gospel."

There are three key words to understanding this, the Pope said: "Speaking, doing and listening. Referring to Jesus’ words that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven”, the Pope said that despite their ability to speak, they lack the ability to practice what they preach and to listen.. When Jesus warns the people to watch out for the ‘pseudo-prophets’, he says: ‘By their fruits, you will know them’. “And here, from their behavior: so many words, they speak, they do wonders, they do great things but do not have their hearts open to listen to the Word of God, they fear the silence of the World of God and these are the ‘pseudo-Christians’, the ‘pseudo-pastors’. It is true, they do good things, it’s true, but they lack the rock"

Instead, "those who listen to these words but do not make them their own, who do not really listen and act on them will be like the one who builds his house on sand." And "we know the result." "When Jesus warns people to beware of  ‘pseudo-prophets ', he says: 'By their fruits you shall know them'. And here, by their attitude: they speak so many words, they do wonders, they do great things but they do not have an open heart to hear the Word of God, they are afraid of the silence of the word of God and these are the 'pesudo- Christians', the 'pseudo-pastors’'. It’s true, they do good things, it is true, but they lacks the rock. "They lack the rock of the love of God, the rock of the Word of God." And without this rock "they cannot prophesy, they cannot build: they pretend, because in the end everything collapses." "They are the 'pseudo-pastors', worldly shepherds, pastors or Christians also who talk too much, they are afraid of silence, they may be do too much. But they are unable to listen, they act on their own words, the act on their own, they do not act according to God”.

"We remember these three words, are a sign: doing, listening, speaking. One that knows how to listen and from listening, with the strength of word of another and not from their own, can remain balanced. Though they may be a humble person, that does not seem important, but how many of these great ones there are in the Church! How many great bishops, how many great priests, how many great faithful who know how to listening and from listening, they act".

An example of our day, said the Pope, is Mother Teresa of Calcutta who "did not speak, and was able to listen in silence" and "has done so much! Neither she, nor her work collapsed". The Pope concluded, “May the weakness of Jesus, who though strong made himself weak to make us strong, accompany us in this celebration and teach us to listen and to act from listening, not from our words".

 

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