This week, I am taking some time to travel, but I was struck by the relevance of the Gospel for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity. In St. Matthew 7:15, our Lord warns, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Of course, false and corrupt religious leaders have been a perennial problem in history, and Christ's Church has been afflicted by bad leadership in many periods, including ancient Gnostics, fourth-century Arians, and worldly medieval prelates.
However, such false prophets seem even more rampant in the 21st century. Besides the usual human foibles that afflict individual leaders, our time sees so much institutional corruption in theology and moral teaching (or the lack thereof). No church body or Christian tradition seems exempt. There are many who seem determined to mislead and devour Christ's flock, and they can be found among all sorts of theological denominational backgrounds.
In light of such dangers, we must beware. We must be vigilant and strive to remain faithful. None of us is perfect or infallible. None is immune from some temptation. So we all must constantly repent, confess our sins, and seek divine grace. With God's help, we are empowered to resist the corruptions of the age spread by many religious leaders. In the words of Hebrews 12:1, "... let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."
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