Genuine Prophet

The WORD in other words (2014) by Fr Deva Savariyapan SVD – San Quintin Parish, Abramses

Wednesday 12th Week in Ordinary Time

Some of the qualities of true prophet include humility, genuine love for God, fearlessness, not being money-conscious, and not fame-seeking. We can find these qualities in great prophets like John the Baptist and Jeremiah. In modern times the late Archbishop of El Salvador, Oscar Romero, displayed these qualities and met with death for being a true prophet. He said, “We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.”

The qualities of a false prophets are exactly the opposite of a true prophet — pride, hypocrisy, no genuine love for God, money conscious, and fame-seeking. As we observed these days, there are many modern day preachers who use religion for personal gain, for earning money and fame.

Jesus warns us not only to be wary of false prophets but also to avoid being like them. We are to be true prophets by being faithful to our call as baptized Christians. By our baptism we have partaken in the threefold functions of Jesus as King, Priest and Prophet. Francis Cardinal Gorges says that we are a prophetic people because we all share the privilege and duty of preaching the Gospel and witnessing to its power by our way we live.

As baptized Christians and followers of Christ, we are called to be genuine prophets by the good fruits we bear. “But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, … And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5,22-25)

Fr Stephen Bevans, SVD says that whether we have discerned our call to religious life, or to ordained ministry, or to the various ministries open to lay Christians, we are called to be prophets. We are called to that dedication that so captured Paul. We are called to exercise that authority that so possessed Jesus. As the songs puts it: “We are called to act with Justice, we are called to love tenderly, we are called to love one another, and walk humbly with God.”