Each day we look and listen to the world around us and we know in our very being that is time for the prophetic voice to be raised, heard and obeyed. The prophet is called to speak God’s truth in a way that causes people not only to stand up and listen, but to become the change that they seek.
Today we hear the call of the Prophet Ezekiel and we hear the first criteria of the prophet: “As the LORD spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet,” Ez:2,2 The prophet does not blow his own horn and put forth his or her own message, but rather the prophet is first and foremost called by God for the purpose of speaking His word. The prophet always recognizes that God is the giver of the gift and all is set for God’s Glory. The Lord in speaking to Ezekiel says; “But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! ” God uses and speaks through the prophet, it is not the prophet but rather God who speaks.
It is clear that the Prophetic voice has gone silent to the plight of the poor, the innocent, the immigrant, the rejected and dejected in our society, in our nation and our world. Through our listening to the Spirit and reading the signs of the times as church we must be willing to respond to God’s call to be prophets in a society that has become lost and can no longer distinguish right from wrong. We call evil good, and what is good we deem evil. We must seek to right the wrongs and not get lost in anger, fear and despair. The noise of the television, the Ipad and smart phone seem to overwhelm us and we wonder how did we get here, why are we here and what can we do to move from where we have found ourselves to where God is calling us too. It takes a willingness to simply allow ourselves to be open to God using us, and responding, trusting and believing that God who called us will not abandon us.
It is time for us to again stand for right, and stand for life. If anyone is going to be able to speak to the dignity of human life, and that life is truly sacred it must be a prophetic church, a people who have the Spirit of God placed in them to tell the truth about who God calls us and created us to be. Human beings a reflection of His divinity. The very nature of our humanity demands dignity and respect for all humans no matter where we are born, no matter what color we are, no matter the creed we profess or the way of life we live. What we see today is truly an attack on life itself and the dignity of the human person. Both the child in the womb, and the child at the breast must be valued, the child longing to simply be a part of a family, must matter. From youth and the young to the aged all seek to be understood, respected and valued.
We may ask, what can I do? I am just one person in a sea of despair. The prophet is not to be concerned with the size of the task, but rather to make sure they consistently and boldly proclaim the message of the One who has called and sent them to speak the Truth that is of God and from God. When Saint Paul doubted the Lord spoke to him and said; “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Right where we are we can make a difference, leave a legacy, touch a life, give someone a hand up, not just a hand out. When seeking to feed the poor, the offer assistance to the marginalized, we seek to recognize and lift up the dignity of the human person no matter their context or situation.
Our motto is, St. Joseph where All are Welcome! Let these not be simple words, but lest transform them into deeds of justice, compassion and love.
