What does it mean to be a prophet?

09-29-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Seth Reed

Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, we see Moses exclaim to Joshua, “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” What exactly does it mean to be a prophet? For the people of the Old Covenant, it meant calling back the sinful Israelites and foretelling the doom they would undergo if they did not repent. It meant proclaiming that one day God would send a savior, the Messiah, to right all the wrongs of the world. However, what does it mean to be a prophet under the New Covenant?

It means being open to the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It means proclaiming Christ crucified and risen from the dead. It means doing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It means living as if we truly believe God is real, that He loves us, that He has saved us, and that He calls us forth to go and do His work in the world.

Hermanos y hermanas en Cristo,

En la primera lectura del Libro de los Números, vemos a Moisés exclamar a Josué: “¡Ojalá todo el pueblo del Señor fuera profeta!”. ¿Qué significa exactamente ser profeta? Para el pueblo de la Antigua Alianza, significaba llamar a los israelitas pecadores y predecir la condenación que sufrirían si no se arrepentían. Significaba proclamar que un día Dios enviaría un salvador, el Mesías, para corregir todos los males del mundo. Sin embargo, ¿qué significa ser profeta bajo la Nueva Alianza?

Significa estar abiertos al movimiento del Espíritu Santo en nuestras vidas. Significa proclamar a Cristo crucificado y resucitado de entre los muertos. Significa hacer las obras de misericordia corporales y espirituales. Significa vivir como si realmente creyéramos que Dios es real, que nos ama, que nos ha salvado y que nos llama a ir y hacer su obra en el mundo.