January 26th, 2014
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
In today’s Gospel two prophetic ministries are spoken of. John the Baptist has fulfilled his, and it is coming to an end. Now is the time for the Messiah, Jesus, to begin His ministry. We hear about prophets almost every time we come to Mass. Maybe we are tempted to think of these men and women as people of the past, no longer a present reality.
Brother David Spencer was ordained a priest of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy recently. Check out our video!
Yet we still have prophets today. Indeed, we have just celebrated a Civil Holiday of one. Martin Luther King Jr. was a prophet for equality in the United States and has forever impacted our nation. There are also several Catholic people who have been prophets for our present day: Blessed Mother Teresa, Blessed John Paul II, and our own Pope Francis to name a few.
All Catholics are missionaries
Pope Francis is certainly garnering a lot of attention today. Crowds at the Vatican in Rome are at an all-time high. Recently, the Pope was chosen as “Person of the Year” by Time magazine. People seem to be very intrigued by his simple way of living and candid manner of speaking. Certainly, Francis is challenging bishops, priests and religious to put Jesus Christ at the center of their ministry and avoid self-centeredness, which distracts from the Gospel message.
But, those who really follow Pope Francis’ statements know that all Catholics are being exhorted to live a “missionary discipleship” in every aspect of our lives. This is what a prophet does. They are a mouthpiece for God, for His Truth, even when it is not popular. For Pope Francis, this is a natural part of his being. You see, Jorge Bergoglio was called by God to be a religious priest. In fact, he is the first religious to be elected pope since the Camaldolese monk Gregory XVI in 1831. Early on his life, Jorge felt the call to live in community the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Called to be prophets
Thousands of priests, brothers, and sisters live in this state of life today throughout the world. They received the Call just as these men in the Gospel today. They are called to a life which imitates Jesus who was poor, chaste, and obedient. Pope Francis said in a recent interview, “…religious are called to be prophets in particular by demonstrating how Jesus lived on this earth, and to proclaim how the kingdom of God will be in its perfection.”
Religious are not perfect but they are called to live the life of heaven while on earth. In Eternal life, we will have no possessions since we want for nothing. We will have no exclusive relationships, but rather be united with all the Saints through our union with the Trinity. Also, our motivations will be united to God since we will see that He is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. Some are called to be symbols of the life of heaven on earth. This is a special call which Jesus and his disciples lived. As in the Gospel, they were called to leave everything behind to be witnesses. To give more to God and His people. This is not a natural calling, but a supernatural one. It can only be lived with the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Religious make waves
Jesus not only brings peace and healing to others, but also “makes waves.” Pope Francis says religious are called to be signs, which “sometimes imply making waves… Prophecy makes noise, uproar, some say ‘a mess.’” But this “noise” is made for the good of the whole human race. Rightly lived, religious life proclaims that the Kingdom of God is among us.
In the Gospel today, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave everything for the kingdom, to be prophets. He is still calling men and women today! What if Peter were to say, “No”? Or, John’s father, Zebedee, were to stand in the way or not support this calling? The world would have missed out on the Gospel, on a holy witness. We all appreciate what many religious men and women have done in our lives. Some even have changed the course of history such as Blessed Mother Teresa. Let us never be an obstacle to the Lord. When the still small voice calls someone close to us to a life of prophecy, let us not stand in the way. God will never be outdone in generosity. He loves a cheerful giver and will reward them. Prophecy is not something from the past, but can be very much alive today. It is up to us to be generous!