From time to time, we do come across, within a community, people who do things for their
own benefit or own gain. Sometimes such people would try to influence the
community to listen to them and follow their ways, to the eventual detriment of the community. We have seen how such individuals have
betrayed or sold off their community just for some title, position,
wealth or power and when such people have gotten what they wanted, they
would disappear and let the community face the
consequences.
This is why St. Paul in today's reading
warns us: "Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of
which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of
God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I
have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the
flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a
travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow
them. So be on your guard..."
As leaders of a Christian community, we
need to be discerning and careful not to allow certain individuals to
wreak havoc and destruction to the community. While we
should not become paranoid or suspicious of every person or every idea, we should seek God's help and wisdom to ensure that all in the
community are not led astray or duped into following false or wrong
teaching. May we be vigilant, so that our community would grow according to God's ways and glorify His Name.
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