Where can God find
prophets today?
It’s not an enticing
job posting.
In Jesus’ parable we
hear of the landlord’s servants.
And their
unfortunate fate.
One-by-one they’re
beaten and killed.
In the parable, the
servants represent the prophets.
And indeed, the
prophets were killed for being prophets.
Their missions
usually pitted them against powerful leaders.
Leaders powerful
enough to do them in.
And they often did.
In the story of
Jonah, he was called to be a prophet.
To go to Nineveh and
confront the king.
Rather than do that,
he fled—hopped into a boat to get away.
But it’s not so
easy to refuse the call to a prophet’s duty.
He eventually found
himself delivered to Nineveh—by whale.
And as it turned
out, he actually had success with the king.
Where can God find people
today who have committed to be prophets?
People who won’t
run away from the mission.
Right here—all of us.
At our baptism we
were each called to be priest, prophet and king.
Prophets to spread
the Good News.
Prophets to provide
guidance when things are going off track.
Spreading the Good
News may be the easier portion of the job.
We can do that by our
words.
And we can also do
it by our actions.
Living a good life,
setting a good example.
Keeping the world
on track is definitely the harder part.
Years ago in Baptism
Preparation class, I used to say:
At least, now days,
we won’t be killed for being prophets.
But in more recent
years we see there’s still a great risk
In some parts of
the world—just for spreading the Good News.
But at least it’s
not very likely here in the U.S.
More likely than
physical death, is a social death—or social injury.
Think of high
schoolers.
Someone says, Hey there’s a party tonight, all the beer
you can drink!
Let’s go!
It takes courage,
there’s risk in saying,
Hey, ya know what’s better, let’s go
bowling!
Even for us, as more
socially confident adults,
It takes courage—and
a good sense of balance—
To offer guidance
to others.
Especially if it
isn’t requested.
There are risks in
trying to deliver fraternal correction
To family or
friends or others.
Strongly enough to
be effective.
But gently enough
t0 avoid destroying the relationship.
Or, worse yet, driving
that person further in the wrong direction.
This is Lent.
A special time for
prayer, fasting, and alms giving.
A time for good
works, and service to others.
So, let’s pray that
we might become better prophets.
Let’s fast and give
alms.
Let’s do good works
to help others.
We’ll be spreading
the Good News by our actions.
Glorifying the Lord
by our lives.
Drawing others to
God.
Not only those we
help.
But also those who quietly
notice.
Our actions will be
the work of prophets.
Friday, 2nd Week of Lentt
Mt 21:33-46 Read this Scripture @usccb.org
