Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

The Gulf War brought a lot of wrong, false prophets out of the woodwork. They packed them in to churches and laid out a scenario where the Gulf War was the opening phase in the final battle between good and evil, Christians and the Anti-Christ. No matter what the political situation might be, the turn of the century, the year 2000, brought out a crowd of would-be seers announcing the end.

Joined to a round number like 2000, earthquakes, wars, pestilence, the ever-present impression that everything is going downhill, these inspire people with no more knowledge than you or me to tell the rest of us that this is the end. They claim special access to the mind of God. Jesus says: “Be on your guard against false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but underneath are wolves on the prowl. You will know them by their deeds” (Matthew 7:15).

The early Christians wrestled with the problem and decided that if the so-called prophet asked for money or anything for him/her self, then he or she was suspect. But even that is not as simple as it sounds. There is so much room for self-deception. On the part of the speaker or the hearers. The more one thinks about it, the more it seems clear that no single individual has the key; discussion by many members of the Christian community and attention to the full voice of tradition are required.

The safest course for all of us is not to jump too eagerly on the bandwagon of some person claiming special messages from God or Mary. Along with that we are right to expect any authentic message to lead to more love, more attention to Jesus and his words, more service of others.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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