A photograph of three slain priests are displayed in front of a Catholic church in Manila during a demonstration in 2018. (Photo by Jire Carreon)
Jul 12 2021
Reflection for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B)
Today’s readings are a recollection of the ministry of prophecy, a memorial to those who in our midst are persistently reminding us of our human duty to be mutually responsible for one another.
They are an uncanny lot, called to serve the kingdom of God’s justice and peace through a courageous and perilous disturbance of our modern and frivolous consciences. They have been given the unenviable task of underscoring the errors of our selfishness with the wisdom of selflessness as well as the fragility of our doubts with the sturdiness of faithfulness in the power of God, of the folly of our mistrust with the prudence of trust in the care of the Spirit.
Prophets are also an unwanted lot, who by becoming the “bitter medicine” for the ills of a society who refuses to cure itself, are ungratefully sentenced to a perpetual ignominious death by the very same society it ironically seeks to serve.
Scriptures show us that prophets never applied for the job, and have been disappointingly reluctant to take it when initially offered. Coming from obscure origins, their character sometimes betrayed a lack of ambition bordering on aloofness. But their innocent timidity for “making a difference on the world” is far outweighed by their natural passion for their Divine Protector – they would always look upon themselves as simply trying to do a job God has given them.
So, grounded in these inconspicuous beginnings of a calibrated detachment and hesitant involvement, they can remain unoffended if they are unwanted, ridiculed or driven away because they never desired to be so praised in the first place. Indeed, humility has peculiar inspirations.
The ministry of prophecy is a calling, only a strange calling. Our Lord tells them that though they are called and perhaps ignorant and inexperienced, they will never be sent on their missions for him unprepared; if lacking in stature and credibility, he will confidently bless them with authority. But our Lord also tells them to “take nothing for the journey but a walking stick, sandals and a tunic” with no spare, which is but a gentle admonition to “travel light, for whatever they need along the journey, will be given to them.” They who can truly claim to be the voice of God, must refuse the trappings of power and prestige, and must be willing to be stripped down to and be dependent on the bare essentials.
Read the full reflection in LiCAS.news.
