The Prophetic Ministry
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) Lectionary 71
Jesus is priest, prophet, and king. At our baptism, we are anointed and called to fulfill the offices of priest, prophet, and king in our own way.
During Advent, Christmas and Epiphany we worship Jesus as King. Born a child, laid in a manger, and forced to flee as a refugee, Jesus is still king of kings. He came in humility, but will come again in glory.
As kings, we lead our family, our business, our community, and our nation. We lead by our example as we go about our life and work. As parents, as godparents, and as a community, we are called to direct our “children toward the accomplishment of their God-given missions, educating them, shaping them interiorly, molding their behavior, [and] disciplining their desires.” (Bp Barron 2014) This week is Catholic Schools Week. The options for formal Catholic education in our Diocese are limited, but we are not excused from this kingly duty to educate our children to know and live the faith.
During Lent and Easter we give thanks for Jesus as our great high priest. He is both our sacrifice and priest for us. He suffers for us, bears our sins, and is our salvation. As a priestly people, we are set apart and made holy for God’s service. We pray for ourselves, for our family, and for the world. We participate in the sacraments and the Mass. We strive to bring people into relationship with God.
Today, the scriptures invite us to consider Jesus as a prophet.
Often, when we think of prophets, we think of strange people with strange ideas about the future. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses describes the prophet God will raise up for his people. A prophet is someone like us who speaks the words God gives them. Three times, we hear that the prophet is someone from among their own kin. Not an angel or a superhero, but a person like them.
Some of us are strange. Some of you may be super heroes. Sometimes God does give the prophet a message about the future. But, usually the prophet is an ordinary person speaking God’s truth.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus taught the people in the Synagogue. A man was there with an unclean spirit, who cried out “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
It doesn’t appear that Jesus was speaking to this man in particular. He was simply teaching in the Synagogue. But the word of God is powerful, and the unclean spirit in that man recognized and feared that power. I wonder if the man even realized he had an unclean spirit with him. I suspect he did not. Certainly he did not go to the Synagogue expecting a prophetic word that would free him from that unclean spirit.
Today, most spiritual warfare is more subtle. We don’t often see the sort of dramatic words and actions described in today’s Gospel. But, the response of an unclean spirit around or within us is still the same. First, the unclean spirit tries to claim identity with us. “What have you to do with us,” he asked. “Have you come to destroy us?” We are not one with our enemy. We are not our sin. We are made in the image and likeness of God. We will not be less ourselves if we are freed from our sins. And second, the unclean spirit tries to persuade us that God’s word is to condemn and even destroy us.
It has always amazed me that the great saints are so very aware of their sins. I think that most of us wander around thinking we’re mostly OK, but could do better. The great saints crawl to the sacrament of confession frequently, desperate to be relieved of their burden of sin.
My youngest child provided a helpful metaphor. When we look at a candle or an oil lamp, the oil or wax looks clean. We light the wick, and it begins to melt. As it melts, a little puddle of clear liquid forms, and a film of impurities floats to the top. As the heat penetrates the candle or oil lamp, it becomes more and more clear, and more and more impurities are drawn out.
We know that Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is God from God, and light from light. As our own hearts are set on fire, and the light and the Word of God penetrate our hearts, impurities are drawn out. As we bring the word and truth and light of Jesus Christ into our families, our communities, and the world, it has a similar effect.
The man with the unclean spirit had it exactly wrong. And no wonder, because our enemy is a liar from the beginning even until now. God’s purpose and our purpose for bringing the word and truth and light of God is not to bring blame or destruction. The purpose is to give people the motive, means, and opportunity to become right with God.
Be warned; the word of God is a two edged sword. We must have faith and courage to speak boldly, but we also require wisdom and prudence. Speaking the truth of God is a terrible and awesome responsibility. If God gives us a message, and we do not speak, we are in terrible danger, like Jonah. On the other hand, if we falsely claim to speak the word of God, we risk eternal and spiritual death. But, do not fear. If we keep close to God, and are purified by the word and truth and light of God, then God’s Holy Spirit will speak through us as we fulfill our prophetic calling to make the truth and light and love of God known in the world.
