Are you the genuine article?

Fake goods are rife on the market, everything from watches to hand bags, clothes and even consumables such as soft drink and chocolate. These goods are prevalent in today's market and at times they are difficult to distinguish from the real article. Take for example a fake Rolex watch, from the outside a good fake can fool even the experienced connoisseur. He or she will however be able to tell the difference between a fake Rolex and a genuine example by what is on the inside, the quality of the watch will be determined by its craftsmanship and attention to detail along with the materials used in its construction.

God is a human connoisseur, we may be fooled by outward appearances but our creator knows our hearts and our thoughts, He knows every deed done in secret and every wicked thought of man, nothing can escape His divine knowledge. We may be able to fool people into believing that we are 'good' Christians, we may be charitable, friendly and even work tirelessly for the Church, but if our inside is full of darkness, "How great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:23. If we do all these things but do not portray love to our fellow man, we are nothing! This love must be a love that has its origins in God, a love that is pure and not for the sake of impressing others as God knows your motives and He shall "not be mocked" Galatians 6:7.

It is love which binds all things together as St Paul states in Colossians 3:12-17 -

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and ^[be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Saint Paul also states in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 -

¹ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

On the outside it is quite simple to portray virtues that may impress our peers, however if we do not display love nor genuinely love one another by treating each other as we ourselves desire to be treated, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Love binds all virtues together and perfects them and without love all of our work is completed in vain.

Jesus Christ warns us of cheap imitations when He advises His apostles to tread cautiously around wolves in sheep's clothing. Like the fake Rolex a wolf in sheep's clothing mimics an ordinary sheep displaying its characteristics but on the inside they are ravenous wolves whose hearts are filled with all manner of wickedness. Let us then examine ourselves and reflect on who we are, are we a fake Rolex? Are we shiny and glittery on the outside whose insides are made from inferior materials, or are we the genuine article? Remember that you may be able to fool people into believing you are a good Christian who is growing in the faith but you will be unable to fool God.

By treating others with contempt, especially to those new to the parish, you are portraying a negative view of the entire Church, yourself and the Christian faith, you may be the cause for someone losing their salvation and you will be held accountable for such actions, for Christ states in Matthew 18:6 -

⁶ but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Woe to us if we are the cause of someone leaving the Church or failing to return on account of our foolishness! Repent and beseech the Lord to create in you a new heart a soft heart that is loving and genuine so that your outward appearance is in harmony with the depth of your soul.

Treat each other with a genuine love and with humility, then and only then will the love of Christ abide in you.