OUR PROPHETIC MISSION: LET SHINE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.
January 26 2020: Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
A Scottish proverb says, “The good speech of an ass is
better than the bad words of a prophet.”
We all are prophets in the midst of a world in search of
meaning and direction. The day of our Baptism, the priest or the deacon who baptized
us said, “You are Priest, Prophet and King.” This seemingly simple sentence
to which we pay less attention is in reality a mission. Far from being an
option, it is compulsory for all, Christ followers, to be prophets. The question
then is, how do we understand and undertake that prophetic mission?
The Catechism provides a beautiful answer to that question. It
says, “Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization,
"that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of
life." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific
property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary
circumstances of the world." This witness of life, however, is not the
sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for
occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the
faithful” (CCC. 905). We make effective our mission by becoming light in the
places where we live. Because, by our baptism, we all have the mission to announce
Christ, in one way or another.
It appears clear that the theme of today’s liturgy is about
our prophetic mission. We are baptized to shine by preaching and witnessing of
Jesus.
In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of a great
light, a light that dispels all darkness, takes away all anguish, makes vanish
all gloom and distress. It is a great sign of restoration and rejoicing for the
people accustomed to obscurity.
For us, Christians, that light is brought by Jesus. Better
yet, this light is Jesus himself. He is the light of the world, the light of
our lives, the light that takes away from us all marks of obscurity, gloom and
sadness. As his disciples, we are called to reflect that light. That is our
prophetic mission. We are urged to stand in this world as mirrors reflecting
the rays of the light that is Jesus.
Paul, in the second reading, will make it a steady
exhortation. He tells us that we can reflect Christ’s light into the world only
if we are united. It is solely through unity that we truly witness of Jesus.
Paul, thus, exhorts, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions
among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose.” We
cannot witness of Jesus-Christ, neither pretend being prophet in the world
without unity. All that is division, and cause of division is counter testimony
to Jesus’ name and to his Gospel. We will pass for false prophets if we are divided
or if we preach division.
Christ is unique, Paul says, and we all belong to him. He
alone died for us and not our leaders, our priests or our pastors. Therefore, no
matter, how powerful is your pastor, he is not Christ. Paul will insist that, we
were not baptized in the name of our priests or prophets or pastors, but only
in the name of Jesus. So, beware of belongingness to the so powerful men and
women of God. We belong to God in Christ Jesus, and not to our men of God.
In the Gospel, Jesus appropriates the prophecy we heard in
the first reading and brings it to completion. Actually, as we read, Jesus came
so that all the prophecies might be fulfilled. In the fulfillment of these
prophecies, the Lord associates himself with people, the disciples and
therefore, your men and women of God and each of us... After the example of
Peter and his companions, it is each one of us who is called to be associated
to the mission of Christ. We are all called to collaborate in bringing the
light of Christ into the world and make it shine. But this light will only
really shine if we witness it through our lives.
It is sad that many Christians today do not reflect Christ
in their way of life. This is not only because of our sins, but mostly,
because, instead of being instruments of unity, we sow seeds of division,
preach division and live in disunity. In many societies, communities and
countries, those who refuse the more words of reconciliations, unity and peace
are Christians. We preach the peace of Christ at mass but work for war, hatred
and division once out from mass. Many are they whose life reflect not the light
and joy of Jesus. To see some Christians living, one can lose all hope in a
beautiful and bright future. For their lives are so sad and desolate, filled
with tears and pessimism. The Gospel of Jesus is hope and joy. Unless you distill
that joy and light through your life, you are not a prophet of Christ, but a
messenger of doom. May this be clear for all of us, brethren, we are ambassadors of
Christ, light of the world. Like Andrew, Peter, James and John, may we
generously abandon everything and follow Christ. The future of this world depends also on us...
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