Prophets are challenged!

It is amazing to see how enormous the influence of prophets in Semitic religions is namely Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Our faith is based on the inspiration from Torah, Bible or Koran. We learn all that God is through the Scriptures and all that knowledge have come from a Prophet at some period in History. Even though other important religions boast of themselves as not founded by any prophets, the Scriptures were written by those inspired men who in Semitic language are called ‘The Prophets’. In our Catholic Tradition, apart from the Historical books and wisdom literature the rest of the OT were written by a definite prophet or the literatures attributed to their names.

A prophet is given the gift of prophecy by God. This gift includes the power and authority of God. Many a times the prophets are associated with the governing office of the Church but in truth it is not so. Almost all the prophets got into trouble for preaching and living God’s word. Though Jesus says the he was not accepted in Nazareth, in truth he was killed in JRS which is not his birth place. The reason for their suffering is being a ‘thorn in the flesh’ to the people and authorities. This compulsion comes from their conviction that the people should be given an opportunity to see the face and heart of God.

We see different people here: normal and abnormal, family and single, divorced, widowed and people who are in grave sin and normal people with normal life. All have our own psychological needs. People who approach this part of the Liturgy (The Liturgy of the Word) with only 40% of us can name more than 4 of the 10 commandments; only 50% of us know the Gospel writers; 12% believe Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife and 75% of us believe that the Bible teaches that ‘God helps those who help themselves’, when in fact Ben Franklin said this. (Bill McKibben) and similar intellectual challenges, Prophets are challenged!

Liturgy of the Word is just one area of ministry in the life of a prophet. Prophets are stage performers making you laugh or entertained with how much they know, rather they are commissioned by God to break your stony hearts and give you a heart of flesh. A performer makes the people happy; an intellectual makes them think; actors keep the people entertained, teachers make the students to practice but prophets reconcile us with God by fearlessly proclaiming their sins and calls us to a life with God through the prophet’s own exemplary life.

Being a Prophet is our primary call as chosen people of God. How do we witness a prophet? How do we see a prophet in today’s conditions? Are we guided by the Spirit to witness the prophet and see the need to acknowledge prophets in our living surroundings? If we acknowledge a prophet, do we pay full attention to his message by taking his message to our hearts?