"Do you collect grapes from thorns, or figs with brambles?" (Matteo 7: 15-20)

Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer

A false prophet puts himself at the center of the life of others. A prophet of Christ serves, as God served. A false prophet indicates himself; A true prophet indicates Christ. A false prophet speaks with the words that inspires him for vanity; A real prophet sometimes does not speak at all and expresses himself with moans. A false prophet lives for glory and searches and often gets a sequel and many advantages; The real prophet undresses and is stripped because of the truth that is the love of Christ who consumes him and pushes him to live.

From the Gospel according to Matthew 7: 15-20

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: «Look at the false prophets who come to you as a sheep, but inside they are birds of prey. You will recognize them from their fruits. Is it gathered grapes from thorns, or figs with brambles? So every good tree produces good fruits and every bad tree produces bad fruits; A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, nor a bad tree produce good fruits. Each tree that does not produce good fruits is cut and thrown into the fire. So you can recognize them from their fruits ».

* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blogLike Jesus. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.