Prophets Among Us (02/06/2024)

We were at our usual Monday evening bible study breaking open Paul’s 1st Letter to the Thessalonians. As we discussed the text of 1 Thessalonians 5, one member noted that she’d never been a prophet. We stopped to discuss the reality that a prophet is misunderstood. A prophet isn’t one who foretells future events but rather one who calls others back to right-relationship with the LORD and one another, a messenger for the LORD. And then one member boldly spoke up and recounted a powerful prophetic moment with the member who said she’d never been a prophet. “We were talking in the group, and you said, ‘Reach for Christ and you will find that He is already reaching for you.”

We spent time discussing that message and its impact on the woman who shared it. We decided that, indeed, we could be prophets in our faith communities and homes if we speak what the Spirit inspires us to speak boldly, if we encourage others to turn to the LORD and to loving relationships with one another.

As baptized Christians we are all anointed to share in Christ’s ongoing salvific mission as priest, prophet and king. As priest we are to be both people of personal prayer and people who lead others to prayer. As king we are to be people who care about building up the kingdom through authentic community and about the welfare of everyone in the kingdom lived out through service. As prophets, we are called to be the messengers of the LORD in everyday life, to speak up through the power and inspiration of the Spirit calling others to live as the LORD commands us, as loving individuals and communities.

All of us are called to be prophets, to spread the WORD wherever we go through the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we will do this through words, at other times through deed. As St. Francis of Assisi advised: “Preach always, and when you must, use words.” We are called to speak to our family and community members about the love of the LORD and our calling to live into those whom we were created to be – loving daughters and sons of the LORD and sisters and brothers of Christ. We are called to bravely speak up when we see another floundering or worse, completely turning away from goodness and light. We are to speak words of the LORD’s comfort to those who are hurt and lost.

Prophets in the spiritual sense are the channels through which the LORD conveys to His children what they need to know, what they need to remember, what they need to do, but most especially who they are created to be. Prophets are inspired by the Spirit. Remember the Nicene Creed: “I believe in the Holy Spirit…who has spoken through the prophets.” It is time we all opened ourselves to the wonders of the Spirit and our calling to be prophets.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.

Thoughts? Questions? Requests? – katewiskus@gmail.com