The Challenge of a Prophet

01-30-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp

According to “Living Liturgy” the first reading is one of the most tender and personal moments in all the scriptures. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you”. God in this passage speaks very personally to each of us that even before we were conceived in the womb, He knew who we were and what we are to become. We are not accidents of creation but designed individuals with God’s mark and seal.

It presents us with Jeremiah’s call as a prophet that from the moment of conception God had designated him a prophet to his people. The same way Jeremiah is called, is how each of us is called by God for a specific mission, nevertheless, each call carries its own challenge. As God’s prophet he would face lots of challenges, but God promises him that He would not allow him to be crushed. “But do you gird your loin; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you before them”. The scripture is filled with God’s promises never to abandon His people even when it seems He is silent. He is always there with His protective hands to lift us up and this continues to be effective even to date. The passage underscores the fact that God’s call begins from our mother’s womb and if we are faithful to that call even though we face challenges and opposition He will always be by our side. Again, truth has a price and the price is confrontations by those who do not want to listen to the truth. Our world today does not want to hear the truth of God and every effort is made to silence the truth and the message of Christ, thus, those of who bear the name of Christ, must be ready to face similar persecutions like Jeremiah in our present world.

Paul in the second reading reiterates the value of love and what love is all about. He says, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interest, it is not quick tempered, it does not brood over injury love does not fail” etc. Paul wants us to recognize that love is one thing that endures forever and that even in the midst of persecution, challenges and crises we can still practice love.

Jesus in the Gospel encounters a similar situation as Jeremiah in the first reading. Jesus faces opposition from His own people for telling them He is the anointed Messiah. “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” Meaning that He is the anointed Messiah God has sent to bring liberty to captives and good news to the people. Instead of accepting the message they were more interested in questioning Him and asking themselves: is this not the Son of Joseph? Because they knew who He was, they could not take His message. Jesus’ rejection in His own home is because the people could not comprehend how this poor son of the carpenter, they knew very well can be the Messiah. Most often we miss important messages because we look down on the messenger, Jesus’ example invites us to place our focus on the message and never disregard the messenger.

Besides, most often our greatest enemy and opposition come from those who feel they know us or those who are close to us. In the words of John Bergsma “The readings for this Sunday call us to face persecution with courage knowing that persecution is the mark of the true prophet”. By baptism we are all prophets and our prophetic role demands standing for the truth even when it might bring us persecution, but we should be confident knowing that God is always on our side.

Happy Sunday to you all,

Fr. Tony Okolo

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