Prophetic problems

The prophetic role is presented in the texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today. The passage from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah addresses the question which only in our relationship with God can we find the answer. Who am I? What is my name? What am I called to do? Our Christian tradition celebrates our initiation in Life in the Spirit in Baptism. The Baptismal Liturgy anoints us as priest, prophet and king. Our prophetic role is to see and listen to our environment and speak of the situations in our experience which are moving people away from greater intimacy with God. The proclamations of Jeremiah to the people of Judah required great strength from his relationship with God because, as Friar Jude Winkler comments, Jeremiah was thought of as a collaborator with Babylonian forces threatening the Kingdom of Judah. The conflict behind the exhortation of Love by Paul to the Corinthians is the misuse of the Gifts of the Spirit, in particular the gift of speaking in tongues, by members of the community. Our culture is characterized by Father Larry Gillick SJ as one of deep individualism. The excitement of those gifted with tongues or other charisms is a natural human response. The temptation to self aggrandizement and pride is great for the one who is gifted. Father Larry encourages us to review and revise the Western motto of “What’s in it for me?” (WIFM) to the Christian love mission of “What’s in it for Them?”  (WIFT?) The appearance of Jesus, popular teacher and center of many gracious gifts of food and health, in the synagogue in His home town Nazareth is described in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus uses the text from the Prophet Isaiah to proclaim that He is the awaited Messiah in their midst. The community holds the reaction to this great leap from carpenter’s son to Messiah until Jesus points to the failure of the chosen people, in the time of Elijah and Elisha, and in His time to recognize the Presence. The action of God in their midst is seen and accepted by the pagans in history and by the outsiders in Capernaum rather than among His townspeople in Nazareth. The hymn to Love which Paul quotes to the Corinthians is a conscience assessment for all. It is the direction in which the true prophetic message exhorts people to move. Venturing into the world of “What is in it for them” will bring the ire of the culture to our attention. We have the strength of the Spirit which accompanies of giftedness as prophet.