A  PROPHET’S  IMPACT

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this 14^th Sunday in Ordinary Time [B] is, “A Prophet’s Impact.” [Make impact gesture]

This Sunday - next Sunday - and the Sunday after that - we’re going to hear from 3 Jewish prophets - of the Jewish scriptures: Ezekiel today, next week Amos, and the week after that, Jeremiah.

A prophet speaks up. A prophet challenges us. A prophet calls us to be better. A prophet calls us to be honest with each other. A prophet calls us to be in touch with God. A prophet calls us to justice, fairness, and to be a voice for the voiceless. A prophet calls us to be a keeper - to be our brother and sister and the earth’s keeper.

A prophet gets killed - because when he or she speaks up - sometimes we want to kill them. Their words can feel like they are made of sandpaper or razor blades.

TODAY’S PROPHET: EZEKIEL

Today’s prophet is Ezekiel - a very challenging and fascinating character.

If you have a Bible at home that’s handy, go to the prophet Ezekiel and just flip through the chapters - just reading the headings.

Don’t read from Chapter 1 to Chapter 48 - straight through.

Like reading a magazine or Reader’s Digest, just pick and choose what hits you as you page through its content.

Like chapter 2, “The Vision of the Scroll.” Ezekiel is told to eat - EAT- the scriptures. Chew on them. Digest them. We become what we eat. Great image. Make these words and images our own.

Like chapter 12 he does a mime of being someone who is packing their bags - and getting out of there. My mom used to do that when we were kids. When we were fighting or driving her crazy - she would go to the closet, take our her coat, put it on, grab an empty suitcase and head for the door. The 4 of us would try to stop her and cry, “Mom, no, don’t go.”

I’m the youngest of four and I didn’t know this was fake till my early 30’s. The other 3 knew it was a game - and it worked.

You might stop at chapter 16 and read the allegory of the girl. When she was born she was dropped in an open field and left to die - covered with blood and after birth. God says that He came along and picked her up. He washed her and cared for her. She grew up. In her teenage years, she ran away from God - and really messed up. God came along and rescued her again. And God provided her with the best food, clothes, jewelry, and she  became a queen. And once more she messed up becoming infatuated with her own beauty. She became a prostitute and on and on and on - and God was with her all the time and kept on welcoming her back. So too Israel.

That’s a good way to read Ezekiel. That’s how to be challenged by Ezekiel. In chapter 37 he says we’re like a dead skeleton - laying in a field in a valley with all kinds of dead skeletons and bones.  Then God sends his breath and his word calling all of us who are dead - back to life.

And surprise there is resurrection and new life, here and hereafter.

A PROPHET’S IMPACT

Today’s first reading ends with these words, “And whether they heed or resist - for they are a rebellious house - they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” [Ezekiel 2:5]

In today’s gospel we heard about how Jesus was rejected by his own home town.

And at the end of his life - his crucifixion - his death on the cross - we see him paying the ultimate price for being a prophet - for speaking up - for challenging us: being killed by the mob.

BAPTISM

The next time you’re at a baptism, notice the 2 anointing’s with oil.

The first one takes place early on - when someone - usually a baby - is anointed in their neck, voice box, Adam or Eve’s Apple - sometimes while screaming. The second one takes place after the water being poured over the person’s head.  The baptized person is anointed to fulfill 3 calls in life: to be a prophet, to be a  priest and to be a king or queen.

I like that moment. I like to rub it in.

First the call to be a prophet - that is to scream out for fairness - justice - awareness of the other ones.

I like to say that kids know about fairness - especially when they scream for their piece of cake - their seat in the car - their turn on the ride - what time they have to go to bed.

The number one cry of the prophet is: “It’s not fair.”

Read the pope’s new encyclical on our earth or the big document of Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes.  Both are crying out for fairness on how we treat one another - and how we care about each other - and our home, the earth.

The other two anointing’s are that all of us are called to be priests and kings and queens.

Priests: all of us - men and women - are called to stand there each morning and thank God for a new day - and to look on the altar - the wide plains of creation - and see the round sun and earth and universe - and all human circles and cells - and offer all up to God the Creator in Thanksgiving. Hear God say of all, “This is my body, this is my blood, I’m giving myself and my creations to you. Take and eat. Take and drink. Enjoy your daily bread and daily wine. Pause each morning to attend that daily Mass - with the Mass of humanity.

Kings: that’s the word used in the baptismal ritual - but it’s also queens - and we’re called to see everyone in that light - to honor each other - starting with the little ones. Not having children of my own, I first heard someone talk about his majesty the baby - her majesty the baby. Parents, teachers, care takers, grandparents, serve those little ones - and hopefully they pick up all that love - so they can follow suit.  I’ve always heard about the kind of King Jesus was - one who washed feet and fed the poor.  Now that’s service.

TODAY: PROPHETS

Today I just want to focus on the theme of prophets - and our call to be prophets. 

Who have been the people in our story who were prophets? Who have challenged us?

To be a prophet is to face the tough stuff - to challenge ourselves and others to be Christians - to challenge our kids to get to church - not out of obligation - but because we need folks in our world - who are salt and light - and love. We need folks at work and coffee breaks to speak the truth with love and grace.

To be a prophet is to be someone who gives one’s life and energy for the family and for the human family. Think of all those folks who volunteer and do scouting and keep organizations that serve others rolling smoothly.

CONCLUSION

These are just a few threads of thought in what it is to be a prophet.

One hope - when they are talking about us in the funeral parlor or the meal after the funeral, hopefully some will say of us in so many words things like this:

·       “A prophet has been among us.”

·       “A generous person has been with us.”

·       “A giver was here.”

·       “She could challenge gossip and unfair comments so smoothly.” 

·       “Fairness was her middle name.”

·       “He made so many significant impacts on my life.”