Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne

MEDITATION POPE FRANCIS

In today's Gospel, Jesus says, "Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward" (Matthew 10:41). The word "prophet" appears three times; but who is a prophet? Some imagine him as a kind of magician who predicts the future, but that is a superstitious idea, and Christians do not believe in superstitions, such as magic, cards, horoscopes, or anything of that nature. (By the way, many, many Christians go to the altar to have their palms read: please!) Others describe the prophet simply as a figure from the past, who existed before Christ to announce his coming. Yet, Jesus himself speaks today of the need to welcome prophets; so they still exist, but who are they? Who is a prophet?

Brothers and sisters, the prophet is each one of us: indeed, through Baptism, we have all received the gift and the mission of prophecy (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1268). The prophet is the one who, by virtue of Baptism, helps others to read the present under the action of the Holy Spirit. This is very important: to read the present not as a chronicle, but under the action of the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand God's plans and to respond to them. In other words, the prophet is the one who points out Jesus to others, who bears witness to him, who helps us to live today and to build tomorrow according to his plan. We are therefore all prophets, witnesses of Jesus "so that the virtue of the Gospel may shine forth in daily, family, and social life" ( Lumen Gentium , no. 35). The prophet is a living sign that points out God to others; the prophet is a reflection of the light of Christ on the path of his brothers and sisters. We can therefore ask ourselves: I, who was "chosen as a prophet" in Baptism, do I speak and, above all, do I live as a witness of Jesus? Do I bring a little of his light into someone's life? Do I reflect on this? I ask myself: what is my testimony, what is my prophecy?