Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66,80
Perhaps there is no more dangerous thing, nothing more certain of bringing a man into disrepute, than to obey these particular words of the Lord: Go now to those I send you and say whatever I command you. This duty laid upon them by the Lord is the heavy burden of every prophet. Have you ever felt this burden? Perhaps when speaking the truth of Christ to your children or grandchildren, your neighbour or your friend?
The command to preach the Gospel was the burden of John the Baptist – it was the burden of Jesus – and today, it is the burden of the Catholic Church – and, of course, if you will accept it, it is your burden too.
Other prophets had foretold the coming of the Messiah, John pointed him out when he came. He leapt with joy in the womb at his approach and awoke the people to his coming.
Though we know so much about his birth we know
little about his life, at least, not until, like the Chosen People, he emerged
from the wilderness into which, like the Chosen People, he has been led and in
which, like the Chosen People, he had learned to know God.
We should not pass over this fact too quickly
because truly, the wilderness is the only place we can come to know God
intimately. Have you ever been there? If you have you will know that the
wilderness is found in silence, solitude and prayer – essential elements of
every healthy spiritual life. The Holy Spirit led John into the wilderness of
silence, solitude and prayer; we have to find our own, every day, somewhere –
and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us there – every day.
A prophet is a man (or woman) set apart. John the Baptist was such a man. From the beginning of his life, from his conception in the womb, John was a man who belonged to God – a man who was to live and die for God. God named him and so God claimed him. We, too, are set apart, as a community and individually through our Baptism.
A prophet is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Entrance Antiphon testifies to this fact: He will be great in the sight of the Lord and will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb… . The gospel of Luke (7:28) says: I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. John and the Holy Spirit – together they make a winning combination. We should desire and ask for this gift too. It makes us courageous, wise, knowledgeable, irresistibly attractive.
A prophet is born of God’s will – he is an agent of God’s plan. This comes through very strongly in the insistent use of the verb will in the Gospel, and behind that verb is the full force of the eternal desire and plan of God.
A prophet is always strengthened and protected by God. Do not be afraid, I am with you. This is God’s constant message to his prophets and his constant message to us as well. We should never be afraid to speak in God’s name when the opportunity is called for. Our hesitation would be a serious failure for which we would be asked to account because, as the rite of Baptism emphasizes: Through baptism and confirmation … we have been made … your faithful follower and a witness to your gospel.
A prophet is always resisted. This is the reason the Lord has to constantly encourage and affirm those who dare to speak his word. Do not be afraid, I am with you. Do not be afraid. Some people always resist and wish to destroy the word which points out to them their guilt and shame, and all too often the speaker of that word suffers the same fate. They did to John the Baptist what they desired to do to God’s word but John was not daunted. He accepted his fate in the power of the promise: I am with you.
Fortunately, there are many who are grateful for and who profit from the word of God. It may wound as it strikes, but it also heals. Many understand this, particularly those in touch with their own sinfulness. The hypocrites and the enemies of truth cannot grasp this and never will, unless and until, they surrender the conviction of their own righteousness.
At any rate, as we conclude our reflection let us be in no doubt – each one of us, through our Baptism, have been made a prophet. Priest, prophet and king. We are set apart to speak the word of God in our marriages, families, workplaces and friendship groups. We are given courage by the Holy Spirit who protects us and will make us more and more like the word we speak and the Word is Christ.
Let us take great joy in our calling and say, with the Psalm (70): My lips will tell of your justice and day by day of your help.
