Franciscan Fractal
Contemplating Today’s Culture through the Eyes of St. Francis & the Life of Christ.
“Who is a Prophet?”
“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born, I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4-5
Centuries after the Prophet Jeremiah spoke to Israel, the author of the book of Peter wrote these words: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people.” (I Peter 2:9) While it is difficult for most of us to fathom being part of a royal “priesthood,” being called to the work of a “prophet” may be even more incomprehensible. However, that is what we as Christians are called to do.
We might question the whole concept of being a prophet. Prophets have ceased prophesying, right? There aren’t really any true prophets today, are there? And, if there are prophets in our midst, can we trust that they are telling the truth?
At least 16 prophets are mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, most of whom were men. Isaiah was one of the most influential of the prophets, based on the volume of his recorded writings. Women were also prophets, namely, Moses’ sister Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah (Judges 4:4), and Huldah (2 Kings 22:14).
The word “prophecy” conjures up images of soothsayers predicting the future and foretelling events. In the twentieth century, many “prophets” have come and departed. Some predicted the end of the world and others predicted events that would accompany the return of Christ. These alleged prophets spawned a multitude of false predictions. One such myth was of the rapture where the righteous will be taken up into heaven to meet Christ, and the unsaved are left behind. This myth continues despite it having no scriptural basis or supporting church doctrine.
Why do we then say that the biblical prophets knew the future? The answer is that it appears that way to us in reading Scripture. Much of what the Old Testament prophets were saying was written years after an event had already occurred. The prophets simply identified correctly, at an earlier time, that the people of Israel were drifting from God. It took years for the obvious consequences of their actions to materialize.
The distain for prophets was well documented. In addition to being scorned, they were often stoned, thrown into empty wells, and remained outcasts. No parent would seriously yearn to have their child become a prophet.
All followers of Christ, however, are called to be prophets, like it or not. That’s you and me! A true prophet sees the world from God’s viewpoint, and then tells others about that reality, and not their own. They comment on what is occurring in the HERE and NOW, not the future. Only God knows the future.
Serving as a prophet or mouthpiece for God is a big responsibility. And, becoming a prophet of God is no easy task. Isaiah’s mouth was burned with a hot coal. The prophet Ezekiel had to eat a scroll. Jeremiah suffered with having words tucked into his cheeks by God’s fingers. He then cried over Judah so intensely that he became known as the “weeping prophet.”
Becoming a prophet required a “cleansing” or a rededication to God. Images of hot burning coals on lips, stuffing a mouth full of parchment, or overfilling cheeks with words are expressions of a God who is changing the heart of the person who is going to speak for God. Today, we might not use those terms. And, to be honest, not many of us are up for such an in-your-face, wake-up call from God.
The final outcome for all prophets was that the words they spoke were no longer their own. Clear and simple, they spoke for God. They did not spin their own interpretations. More importantly, the prophets spoke truthfully about what was happening in the present. While they warned of potential consequences, the prophets of Israel were never fortune tellers!
Today, there are ways to see how God wants us as Christians to speak as a prophet. In this world of chaos, babbling newscasters, political commentators, and internet bots and trolls, our minds are cluttered. God desires us to declutter, and be filled with God’s wisdom. The decluttering process, albeit, does not require hot coals on our lips. It requires that we declutter our hearts with silence. We stop listening to the falsehoods that our culture espouses, and listen to the voice of God alone speaking to us from within our heart. God then gives us the voice from which we are to speak.
Silence can come in many ways. Episcopalians, Catholics, and some Lutherans may find value in reciting and praying the Rosary, while silence may also be found by doing meditation, undertaking contemplation, and perhaps best of all, utilizing Centering Prayer. All these things take time. Yet, it takes less time to hear God’s internal voice and presence than attempting to figure things out on our own.
When we move into silence, we can go forth and prophesy boldly knowing that you and I are speaking from the heart of God. Our personal opinions no longer matter.
Prayers and Blessings,
Fr. John
