Homily - July 8, 2012

The Second Vatican Council reminds us that by virtue of our baptism, we share in three offices of Christ: Priest, Prophet, King

Priest: pray, participate in Mass, offer ourselves with the bread and wine on the altar to almighty God.

Prophet: teach, good example
King: self control, sensible discipline of children

Today, we cover Prophet:

I’ve probably mentioned this many times before but it bears repeating.
If you are baptized, you are a prophet.
If you are baptized, you are a missionary.
We don’t have to go to a far off land to spread the Gospel.
Our mission territory could be right in our own homes,
Right in our own families,
The bowling team,
Right in our own workplace.

Of course, it’s not easy.

As prophets, we may take the risk of being called things like: holy roller, goody two shoes

Human nature – We’ve had prophets and teachers in our midst for thousands of years yet we seem to stay about the same.
Ezekiel was dealing with rebels who rebelled against the Lord.
Are we not rebels who continually rebel against the Lord?

Sometimes the prophet will have to say things to people that they will not want to hear.

But we must speak the truth anyway.
Parents take little children to the doctor all the time to get shots.
We know the shots will cause pain.
The child knows the shots will cause pain.
But we don’t let say: “No shots” because it will hurt.
We know that even though it hurts, it’s what the child needs.
Sometimes when we are being good prophets, we have to say things that cause pain.
But it is what the person needs.
We want everyone in Heaven.

Prudence is acheived with the help of God's grace.
St. Paul reminds us of the Lord's words: “My Grace is sufficient for you.”

In Ezekiel’s time, they had a prophet among them.

And Jesus was definitely the prophet of prophets in his time.

What about now?

Do we have a prophet?
All of us.
How do we know what to say?
How do I interpret Scripture?
It can get kind of confusing.
We need the guidance of some real teaching authority.
The college of bishops that forms the teaching magisterium of the Church is our authority.

Even St. Paul said he submitted to the apostles.

The present day apostles are their successors.
We call them bishops.
How fortunate we are to have this teaching body with authority.
We don’t have to just make things up and then hope that we’re right.
If one of the greatest saints, St. Paul, could submit to the authority of the apostles,
Why can’t all who call themselves Christians?
We can’t say we are with Christ, and apart from his apostles.
If we are Christians, we are with Christ and with the Church he established.
Like St. Paul, if we are Christians, we must submit to the apostles.
And as a body united with the pope, they have never taught any error in faith and morals.
Then we can make room for the Prophet of prophets among us, Jesus the Lord.

Paul empties himself and becomes weak in order to be filled up with God’s grace to make him strong.

Part of the way he empties himself is submitting to the apostles.
Then he becomes strong by their backing behind him as prophet to the Gentiles.
Embrace our weakness to quell the rebellion.

We also: submit

Gain the backing of the college of bishops that form the teaching magisterium of Christ’s Church.
Lesson in humility.
There is a God and it’s not me.

Having this backing should give us great confidence as we go out on our daily mission.

And we will sometimes be rejected.
But we remember from today’s Gospel,
When they reject us, we are in good company.
They rejected Jesus first.