The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to seek deeper faith that enables us to reject the false prophets of power and privilege and strive for the good fruit of care and compassion in our relationships.
The reading from the Book of Genesis presents Abraham’s act of faith.
* [15:6] Abraham’s act of faith in God’s promises was regarded as an act of righteousness, i.e., as fully expressive of his relationship with God. St. Paul (Rom 4:1–25; Gal 3:6–9) makes Abraham’s faith a model for Christians.
* [15:9–17] Cutting up animals was a well-attested way of making a treaty in antiquity. Jer 34:17–20 shows the rite is a form of self-imprecation in which violators invoke the fate of the animals upon themselves. The eighth-century B.C. Sefire treaty from Syria reads, “As this calf is cut up, thus Matti’el shall be cut up.” The smoking fire pot and the flaming torch (v. 17), which represent God, pass between the pieces, making God a signatory to the covenant.
* [15:16] Generation: the Hebrew term dor is commonly rendered as “generation,” but it may signify a period of varying length. A “generation” is the period between the birth of children and the birth of their parents, normally about twenty to twenty-five years. The actual length of a generation can vary, however; in Jb 42:16 it is thirty-five and in Nm 32:13 it is forty. The meaning may be life spans, which in Gn 6:3 is one hundred twenty years and in Is 65:20 is one hundred years.
* [15:18–21] The Wadi, i.e., a gully or ravine, of Egypt is the Wadi-el-‘Arish, which is the boundary between the settled land and the Sinai desert. Some scholars suggest that the boundaries are those of a Davidic empire at its greatest extent; others that they are idealized boundaries. Most lists of the ancient inhabitants of the promised land give three, six, or seven peoples, but vv. 19–21 give a grand total of ten. (Genesis, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 promises the land of Canaan to the holy people.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Matthew warns about False Prophets.
* [7:15–20] Christian disciples who claimed to speak in the name of God are called prophets (Mt 7:15) in Mt 10:41; Mt 23:34. They were presumably an important group within the church of Matthew. As in the case of the Old Testament prophets, there were both true and false ones, and for Matthew the difference could be recognized by the quality of their deeds, the fruits (Mt 7:16). The mention of fruits leads to the comparison with trees, some producing good fruit, others bad. (Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jeanne Schuler comments that what touches her at the core is the warmth and certainty of being loved just as I am. The day’s good fruit leads to gratitude.
It is hard to believe in a God that does not grade us. It is hard to believe in love that is indifferent to our achievements. How can the motley me be just as precious as the scrupulous me, who seeks perfection?
God embraces us just as we are. No transactions. No checklist. This kind of love is bewildering. What sense does it make? In wonder we come home. Here we glimpse what might be.
God, give us the faith of Abraham. Help us to believe in your enduring and constant love. These days, troubles abound. Many dwell in fear. Contempt is showcased as virtue. Deception and violence are on the rise. Help us to see clearly and act wisely. With your guidance, may our efforts bear fruit. (Schuler, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Beware of false prophets,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.
"Jesus reminded them of what happened to their ancestors who were attracted to false prophets. The same dangers are now faced as those that occurred in earlier days. He reminded them of the experience of their ancestors so that they would not despair at the multitude of troubles that would mount up on this way that is narrow and constricted. He reminded them that it is necessary to walk in a way that goes contrary to the common opinion. One must guard oneself not only against pigs and dogs but those other, more elusive creatures: the wolves. They were going to face inward anxieties as well as outward difficulties, but they are not to despair. 'Therefore do not be thrown into confusion,' Jesus says in effect, 'for nothing will happen that is new or strange. Remember that the ancient adversary is forever introducing deception as if true.'" (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 23.6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 comments that this passage shows us that our God has all the patience and understanding in the world. It also shows us that having faith doesn’t mean being free of all doubts, questions, and fears. That means that we can feel free to pour them all out to the Lord, just as Abraham did.
It’s comforting to remember that even after everything narrated in today’s passage, Abraham still didn’t know exactly how God’s promises would come to pass. But he believed the Lord. He trusted that God was faithful, and that was enough to help him push through his worries. May we all follow the example of this human, faith-filled man!
“Father, you know my doubts and fears. Help me to trust in your faithful love!” (Meditation on Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler reminds of the direction in Genesis 12 for Abraham to leave his homeland and hear now of the sacrifice of animals and the walkway to make a covenant consisting of blessing and curse upon ourselves. Being torn asunder like an animal is the warning to those who break the Covenant. The false prophets arose in the early Church that was lacking authority to dismiss false apostles. The community assesses false prophets by their witness. Some say one thing and do another and want to be god. Friar Jude reminds us that, still today, people give new messages, saying one thing and living another. Know them by their fruits!
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rabbi Sharon Brous who places individual care and relationships at the heart of meaningful community. Our work is not only to preach a theology of love and belonging, but to ensure that our communities strive to embrace that mandate.
To take this mandate seriously means to do everything we can to free our sacred spaces of shame and stigma. It means to speak honestly and openly about disconnectedness and loneliness, depression, anxiety, and addiction…. Communities of love and belonging are spaces where even at our most vulnerable, we’re still willing to show up and start walking, trusting that our community, those circling toward us, won’t look away.
The scientific data and spiritual insight here are in strong alignment. Disconnection is a plague on our society, a plague of darkness. The antidote is a rich, meaningful connection. We all need an ezer k’negdo [2]—someone to meet our vulnerability with concern and care, to weep with us through the night, and to stand with us in the trenches, working with love to build a better world. [3] (Rohr, n.d.)
We implore the guidance of the Spirit as we ponder how to reject false prophets and seek connection with all God’s children that reveals good fruits of love, mercy, and compassion.
References
Genesis, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/15?1
Matthew, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/7
Meditation on Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/25/1314317/
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-community-of-care/
Schuler, J. (2025, June 25). Daily Reflection June 25, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-25-2025
Schwager, D. (n.d.). You Will Know Them by Their Fruits. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 25, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun25
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