Gospel. Matt. 8:15–21. At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that saith to me: Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
2. Homiletic Sketch
What We Must Avoid, and What We Must Do, in Order to Enter Into Heaven
The gospel which I have just read for you is a small portion of Christ’s sermon upon the Mount. Toward the end of this sermon our Lord admonishes his hearers to enter in at the narrow gate, “for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate and strait is the way that leadeth to life; and few there are that find it.”—Matt. 7:13, 14. By these words we are taught that the way to heaven is a laborious one, and that the number of those who perish is far greater than that of those who are saved. Immediately after this our Lord gives the reason why so few are saved and so many damned, and shows at the same time what we must avoid, and what we must do, in order to enter into heaven. The gospel of this day treats—
I. Of false prophets;
II. Of good and bad trees;
III. Of the kingdom of heaven.
Part I
Our Lord warns us, first, against false prophets, saying: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
By false prophets we understand first of all the Scribes and Pharisees. Christ had good reason for warning his hearers against them, for they were very dangerous men. They appeared to be most zealous servants of God; it was understood that their endeavor was to lead men into the way of truth and virtue, but in reality they were hypocrites and seducers of the people; for they placed their own ordinances above the law of God, and interpreted it to suit their own passions; they were men full of pride and self-conceit, and fostered a deadly hatred against Christ, who unveiled their hypocrisy.
2. There have always been false prophets, and there are such now. These false prophets are—
(a.) Within us, namely, evil concupiscence, inordinate inclinations, passions, and self-love, which spare no pains to delude and seduce us.
(b.) Without us, men void of conscience and lost to virtue, who seek to spread unbelief, errors, sins and vices by word and example, as well as by their writings.
3. The false prophets come to us in the clothing of sheep. If they showed themselves in their true form, that is, if they would reveal their unbelief, their bad maxims, their base desires, passions and malice, and say what they really desire, they would gain no adherents, they would be rejected with contempt. Knowing this, they clothe themselves in the garb of sheep; they disguise themselves and seek to appear as if they were very honest and pious, and had the interests of all men at heart.
(a.) In the same way the inordinate inclinations, passions and self-love. They seem to be very harmless, but are full of cunning, endeavoring to represent as good and lawful that which is evil. Wherever it is possible they either totally set aside the commandments of God and of the Church, or they explain away all that restrains sensuality; they seek to weaken zeal for virtue, calling it exaggeration; they persuade us to leave off the exercises of mortification and self-denial, because it is eccentric, injures the health and embitters all the joys of life. Thus pretending to offer us sweet honey, they give us deadly poison. How much must we beware of these false prophets that they may not ensnare us in their meshes!
(b.) Satan. He feigned benevolence to Eve and showed her in a tempting way, that the eating of the forbidden fruit would draw no evil consequences after it; on the contrary, it would be to her greatest advantage and make Adam and herself equal to God. Thus also he comes to us, in the form of an angel of light, in order to win our confidence; he makes us believe that this or that sin does not signify much; that we can go to confession again; that God is infinitely merciful and always ready to forgive; that there is still time to do penance; that even the thief on the cross obtained pardon. Oh, how often does this crafty enemy succeed in deluding men and plunging them into perdition 1
(c.) Bad men. Among these are reckoned—
First, false teachers who seek to spread unbelief and irreligion. They pretend that they are friends of religion, that they fight only against superstition and abuses, and that they will help all to the truth, enlighten and make them happy.
Secondly, authors and sellers of bad books and writings. Now-a-days many books, pamphlets and especially newspapers are calculated to destroy faith and good morals in town and in country, and to spread irreligion and immorality. In these publications the mysteries and doctrines of religion are misrepresented, and the clergy and the institutions of the Church are calumniated, in order to render them ridiculous and odious. Unbelief, hatred of religion, and vices of all kinds, have their origin in bad books and papers. Woe to those who spread and recommend these fabrications of hell; they are responsible to God for the mischief which they cause!
Thirdly, seducers. Such are men who in every possible way flatter females, make them presents, promise to marry them and make a good living for them, merely with a view to carry out their vile purpose. Such are females who paint and adorn themselves in order to attract men, who do them favors on every occasion, who even pretend to modesty, bashfulness and innocence, in order the more easily to win the hearts of the thoughtless and unwary.
These in particular are the false prophets against whom Christ warns us when he says; Beware of false prophets. Yes, let us beware of these false prophets within us, and without us, lest they seduce us and render us miserable for time and eternity.
4. Christ says of the false prophets that inwardly they are ravening wolves. They are indeed. As wolves take advantage of a moment when shepherds and flocks are not watching, or when a sheep strays from the flock, so false prophets attack persons when they are off their guard and do not avoid occasions of sin. Again, as wolves are not deterred from their ravages by unsuccessful attempts, In fact become more ferocious the more resistance they meet with, so false prophets do not desist from their wicked projects when they see them frustrated; on the contrary, they redouble their efforts, and furiously attack those who prevent them from carrying out their plans. Hence infidels and enemies of our holy religion turn their hatred particularly against the clergy, because they are well aware that these obstruct their efforts to overthrow Christianity. Lastly, as the wolves seize their victims by the throat so that they cannot cry for help, so the false prophets endeavor to induce those who fall into their hands to keep silence, carefully to conceal their aberrations from their parents and superiors, to say nothing about the sins of others, and even in the confessional to shut their mouth and there to find death and perdition, where they should receive life and salvation.
Part II
Our Lord now speaks of good and evil trees, saying: Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
1. I need hardly remark that by good and evil trees we understand good and evil people; and by good and evil fruits, good and evil works. It is proper to a good tree to bring forth good fruit; but to an evil tree to bring forth evil fruit. So it is with man; his works are good or evil according as he himself is either good or evil. A good man has good thoughts; he takes pleasure in that which is good; hates and detests that which is evil; he is occupied interiorly with God and divine things; he humbles himself before God and thanks him for all graces and benefits; he recommends himself to his protection; repents of his faults, and when a bad thought or sinful desire arises in his heart he fights against it and suppresses it; he also means well by his fellow-men and loves and esteems all. A good man speaks well; he guards himself against all the sins of the tongue, against all vulgar and impure expressions, against slander, detraction, calumny, lies, cursing, swearing and blaspheming; what he says is necessary and useful, for the honor of God and the good of men. A good man does well; he guards against every false step, practises the Christian virtues and conscientiously fulfils the duties of his religion and state of life. These are the threefold fruits, the fruits of the heart, of the mouth, and of the hand, which a good man brings forth.
2. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. From this some heretics conclude that the just man can do only what is good, and the sinner only what is bad; or, that whatever the just man does, is good, and whatever the sinner does, is bad. But this is entirely erroneous. Not all that the just man does is necessarily good, and not all that the sinner does is necessarily bad. A just man can get inordinately angry, or tell a lie, and that is bad; he may even commit mortal sins and cease to be just. On the contrary, a sinner can pray, give alms or bear crosses and afflictions patiently, and that is good. The words of Christ: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit, are thus to be understood: as long as a man is good he brings forth good works, but he may become bad, and then that which does is no longer good and meritorious; a bad man, so long as he is bad and has not the grace of God, can do no good, meritorious works, but he may become good, as St. Paul did, and, like him and all true penitents, may perform good and meritorious works. How badly off then are Christians who live in a state of sin! The good they do is not bad and punishable, but it is without any merit for heaven. If you should be so unfortunate as to fall into a grievous sin, make at once a good confession that by obtaining sanctifying grace you may become capable of acquiring merits for heaven by means of good works.
3. Lastly, our Lord says of the evil trees: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. According to this divine utterance, not only those who do evil, but those also who do no good, shall be rejected. The Christian justice required for salvation comprises two things, the avoidance of evil and the practice of good. It would be a great error to believe that only those are excluded from heaven who do evil, e. g., fornicators, adulterers, thieves, robbers, drunkards; no, heaven is likewise not for those who neglect the good which they could and should do. We are taught this in the parable of the unprofitable servant who did not waste his talent but only buried it (Matt. 25:30); in the parable of the foolish virgins who were excluded from the nuptial feast only because they had no oil in their lamps (because they were destitute of good works); and especially by the sentence of the divine Judge on the last day according to which those shall be condemned to everlasting fire who during their lifetime neglected the works of mercy.—Matt. 25:41, etc. Heaven is the reward of good works; he who neglects them does not obtain it. If, then, O Christian, you are lukewarm in doing good, if you will not hear of prayer, of the word of God, of the reception of the holy sacraments and of spiritual reading; if you do not perforin the works of mercy and fulfil the duties of your state of life, you have reason to fear that you will share the fate of the trees that bring forth no good fruit; they are cut down and cast into the fire. Therefore “labor the more, that by good works you may make sure your calling and election.”—2 Pet. 1:10.
Part III
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. In these words Christ plainly teaches that only a living faith, not a dead one, will save man.
1. The words: Lord, Lord, apply—
(a.) To those who believe all that the Catholic Church teaches, but do not live according to the rule of faith. The words of St. James refer to them: “What shall it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but hath no works? Shall faith be able to save him?”—St. James 2:14. If a Catholic does not live according to his faith, instead of saving him it will be the cause of his condemnation.
(b.) To those who know how to talk much and beautifully on religion and virtue, but trouble themselves little about the service of God and a truly Christian life, who profess one thing and practice another, for the Apostle says: “If I should have prophecy, and should know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”—1 Cor. 3:2.
(c.) To those who perform various exercises of devotion, belong to many societies and confraternities, frequently go to confession and communion; who exert themselves in order to be present at every devotion that is going on in the church, who load themselves with scapulars, rosaries and indulgences, but do not labor to put off the old man, to extirpate their passions and to fulfil their duties. All these religious exercises are useful and even necessary, but of themselves alone are not sufficient for salvation. You must do the one and not neglect the other.
(d.) To those who frequently make good resolutions, and never carry them out, but always relapse into their former sins; who promise everything, and keep nothing. They who do this tell a lie in the face of God and mock him. How could he be pleased with them? St. Augustine says: “He is a scoffer and not a penitent who does again that of which he has repented.”
(e.) Finally, to those who have zeal for good only at certain times, and then yield themselves again to spiritual sloth. Let them remember the words of Christ: “No man putting his hand to the plough and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”—Luke 9:62.
2. Only he will be saved who does the will of God. What is necessary for that? It is necessary—
(a.) That we keep the commandments of God and of his Church, for they contain the clearly expressed will of God: “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”—Matt. 19:17. “If he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.”—Matt. 18:17.
(b.) That we listen to the voice of conscience, for through the conscience God speaks to us and reveals his holy will. “In every word of thine regard thy soul in faith, for this is the keeping of the commandments.”—Sir. 32:27.
(c.) That we obey our superiors, especially our spiritual superiors and pastors of souls. To them refer the words of Christ: “He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me.”—Luke 10:16.
d.) That we conscientiously fulfil the duties of our state of life, “Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.”—1 Cor. 7:20. He who neglects the duties of his state of life cannot be saved, though he may otherwise lead a pious life. Example: Heli.
Peroration
Examine yourselves closely and earnestly and see whether you have never played the part of a false prophet; whether you have given scandal to others and induced them to sin; whether heretofore you were evil or good trees, walking in the way of virtue or vice; lastly, whether and how you have done the will of God. If in this self-examination you find yourselves more or less guilty, humble yourselves before God, ask his pardon, and resolve from henceforth to amend your life and to repair by true penance all the injury you have caused by sin. Dedicate to God the remainder of your life, serve him with fervor and fidelity,’ and he will give you the crown of life. Amen.
