How To Be a Prophet

At our baptism we are called to be a prophet, which sounds rather daunting. Just what are our responsibilities as a prophet? Bishop Thomas Gumbleton says a prophet is “the one who speaks for God, not just in words, but by the way we live.” And what does God want us to say? Joan Chittister helps somewhat with her observation, “The prophet says no to everything that is not of God.”

Our next step is to discern what is not of God. Jesus helps us out here, because by observing his life, we know that exclusion is not of God (Jesus went out of his way to spend time with people who were shunned in his day: lepers, poor people, tax collectors, prostitutes, and Samaritans). Self-righteousness is not of God (hence the parable of the pharisee and the sinner praying in the temple). Ignoring a neighbor who needs our help is not of God (as illustrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan). Being attached to possessions is not of God (for love of possessions prevented a rich young man from following Jesus). Refusing to forgive is not of God (for Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy times seven times).

To be a prophet, then, we must say yes to being inclusive, humble, compassionate, detached from worldly goods, and forgiving. By living out these values, we will speak for God and fulfill our prophetic calling. It’s a challenging vocation, but unlike our brother prophet John the Baptist, at least we aren’t called to make straight the way of the Lord while wearing clothing made of camel’s hair and eating a diet of locusts and honey!