Today we celebrate the birth of the great NT Prophet John the Baptist.It was really interesting for me to observe some readings of this week;
because in this 11th Week, the Church was exposing some of the prophets.
Tuesday’s reading was from the 1st Kings 21:17-29.
It was on the Prophet Elijah.
He was sent to the King Ahab, to proclaim the (Punishment) Message of the Lord - “I am bringing evil upon you” - as he murdered Naboth and took possession of his vineyard.
We see there that Ahab repents and gets the mercy of the Lord.
The Wednesday’s reading from the 2 Kings 2:1.6-14 was about the Prophets Elijah and his follower Elisha. Elisha follows Elijah- his master, with immense faith and gets the power of his master.
The Thursday’s reading from Sirach 48:1-15, is a Praise of the Prophet Elijah, the one who “by God's word shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire“ …“brought a dead man back to life … by the will of the LORD”
The Saturday’s reading from 2nd Chronicles 24:17-25 tells about the Prophet Zechariah, against whom the people of Israel conspired and stoned to death at the king's order in the court of the LORD'S temple.
Today, (in this Saturday evening Mass)
we hear on the call of Jeremiah (Jer 1, 4-10).
His reply to the call is very genuine. “I am a child”.
The figure of speech - ‘Child’ corresponds not only the age,
but it denotes also the state of understanding the divine will.
We see here the God, who motivates Jeremiah, telling:
“I have chosen you before your birth.”
“I blessed you in your mother’s womb…”
These positive words of God strengthen Jeremiah.
Almost the same message is heard about the great prophet Isaiah (49, 1) on Sunday’s (Day liturgy) reading: “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name“
Also the Gospel passages (Evening & Day) of the liturgy
are about the birth and call of John the Baptist.
What is common in all these Prophets?
Or what made them Prophets?
We will say with out a second thought, that
A Prophet is always labelled as criticizer.
He is some one who cannot compromise with the opponent.
But was it their personal interest?
A thorough study on their lives may tell us:
All these Prophets were not originally criticizers.
They were mainly the witness of God.
In order to witness the God they experienced, they had to criticize many social practices at their time. It was their mission. It was the will of God in their call.
Except that, the prophets were normal people.
They became special or great, by recognizing the call of God in their life.
They became prophets by recognizing their responsibility to the society and God, for this they received Help and courage from God.
Now the question is; is this – being a prophet -
a concept too old for our time?
Or does it mean something to my present faith and life?
Yes, we aren’t different from these great prophets in our call.
Then basically we too are called to witness God and his Values from our birth itself. We received this great call in our Baptism. Yes, that was not only a sacrament to follow Jesus but it makes us His witness in our life.
Carrying the name “Christian” is some great mission as we follow Jesus.
God asks from us more witness, than some superfluous and external matters.
He asks more deeper and living witness by life, in actions, in thoughts, and words. This is a challenge! Let us accept this challenge and make our call meaningful. Let us find the prophet of God in us! God Bless and empower us through his prophets. Amen!
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Fr Thomas Kalathil
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