Help Wanted - Prophets

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