Watch out for false prophets,
who come to you all
in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are savage wolves.
From their fruit
you will recognise them.
They do not gather figs from thorn plants, do they?
Or grapes from briars?
In this way every good tree produces lovely fruit,
but the bad tree produces evil fruit.
A good tree cannot produce evil fruit,
nor a bad tree produce lovely fruit.
Every single tree not producing good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire.
Then, you will recognise them from their fruit.
Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
but the one doing the will of my Father in Heaven.
Many will say to me in that day:
‘Lord, lord, did we not
by your name – prophesy,
and – by your name – cast out demons,,
and – by your name – do many works of power?
And then I will say plainly to them:
‘I have never known you.
Go away from me, workers of lawlessness.’
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen