Lent Week 2: Wednesday
Plight of the Prophet
In the first reading, Jeremiah feels the sting of the people’s hatred against him. A prophet who does not preach what the people wanted to hear, he has naturally earned their ire and spite. Now, they want to eradicate him. He calls on the Lord to help him since it was only to convey God’s message that he came to serve the people.
The plight of the prophet is also very evident in the Gospel. The Lord Jesus foretold his coming passion and death three times, and in each case, his very own disciples, could not accept his message. When he first spoke about it, Peter remonstrated against him, protesting against the thought of the Messiah suffering and dying. When he again discussed his imminent fate at the hands of his enemies, the disciples began to talk among themselves and argue about who was the greatest. And now, a third time the Lord mentions his destiny, and James and John, through their mother, expressed the desire to be granted honor and prestige.
A prophet’s role is not easy; his mission is not trivial; his goal is not flippant. Most of the time, a prophet goes against the grain, speaking in a way that will disturb people, prick their conscience, and rouse them from their complacency. A prophet who titillates the ears of his listeners and dances to the tune of their music is certainly inauthentic and does not come from God.
Jesus, God’s Son, is the ultimate prophet of the Father. Thus, it was his mission not to establish an earthly kingdom but a spiritual domain of God in every heart. He came to serve, to love, and to this end, to sacrifice his very life. From the moment of his Incarnation, Jesus was destined to pour out his blood on the cross for the salvation of all humanity.
There are many prophets the Lord sends to us today to speak about forgiveness, justice, compassion, and unity. When people are comfortable with their own laziness and selfishness, their smugness and indifference towards others, and their neglect of duty towards God, a prophet emerges to proclaim God’s message.
Who are the prophets the Lord sends to us today? Do we listen to them or persecute them? Do we allow them to speak God’s word into our hearts or close our ears to their proclamation? Let us pray that we may be able to identify and honor the prophets who come into our lives, whether they be from the larger society or from among our family and friends. Amen.
