CALLED TO BE PROPHETS

January 27, 2023

by Maria Sciannameo

When Zechariah regained his speech after affirming his son’s name will be John (the Baptist), he broke out in prophecy and praise of God (The Canticle of Zechariah, Luke 2:68-79). The second half of his prophecy was addressed to his infant son, John. …but we can say it is meant for each one of us Catholic Christians as well!

“…And you, child, will be called the prophet of the most high,
   For you will go before the face of the lord to prepare his path,
   to let his people know their salvation,
So that their sins may be forgiven.
   Through the bottomless mercy of our God,
   One born on high will visit us
   To give light to those who walk in darkness.
   Who live in the shadow of death;
   To lead our feet in the path of peace.”

Each one of us is charged with the incredible task of being prophets to His people, that is, bringing and speaking God’s message to others in deed AND word! We are charged to bring God’s message—Not ours! To bring and teach, Not our feelings; Not our ideas of what and how we think things should be, Not what’s trending on twitter or Facebook… but God’s message… the Truth….with clarity and charity!

God’s message …

That God loves us…each one of us!
That God is the Only Creator and Author of all things!
That it is God’s privilege to create and take life—not ours!
That there is right and wrong!
That evil exists!
That God’s love for us is so great that He sent His only Son to die for us!
That God has written His laws in our hearts!
That God wants each of us to live with Him forever—in Heaven! (John 14:1-5)
That there is only One Truth—not your truth and not my truth!
That the One Truth is God Himself! “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”! (John 14:6)
That Love is a PERSON—not a feeling!
That God is Love…The first letter of John tells us that God is Love, God is Light, God is Life! (1John 4)

We are tasked with bringing people out of darkness into His wonderful light! To lead those who live in the shadow of death to walk in the path of peace! To tell them that God is merciful, and that He WILL forgive us of our sins!

My friends, Lent is quickly approaching—a time to reflect on where we stand with God. What is our relationship with Him? Let’s stop and ask God, and ourselves, how we can fulfill that prophecy of Zechariah and teach His people that God is indeed:
The Way,
The Truth, and
The Life!