14th Sunday of Ordinary Time (2024)

According to OSHA- the Occupational Safety and Health Administration- the three most hazardous occupations are Logger, Fisherman, and Aircraft Pilot. Woodcutting is a perilous job because of the unpredictability of falling trees and the dangers of heavy equipment. Stormy seas, isolation, and unpredictable equipment also cause fishing to rank at the top of the list. Many of these same factors make being an airplane pilot or navigator rank high on the list of jobs where workers can be killed or severely injured while at their employment.

While being a Biblical prophet doesn't necessarily endanger life and limb, it is a hazardous occupation. Being a Biblical prophet has a different meaning from our everyday usage of the word prophet. In our common usage, a prophet can see into the future. They have exceptional knowledge that helps them evaluate a situation and predict its outcome. They are hailed for their insight when the consequences they envisioned occur.

A Biblical prophet is something different. God gives the Biblical prophet special graces to interpret current events in light of God's word and bring that insight to the community. Prophecy is a dangerous and burdensome occupation because our world isn't always receptive to God's message. Often, the message the prophet is obliged to proclaim is one our world doesn't always want to hear. The Biblical prophet must bring bad news to those uncomfortable with the truth and those with hearts and minds closed to hearing God's good news because it is too challenging. 

The job of a Biblical prophet is risky because the prophet must be indifferent to public opinion. Their message is often not popular because it challenges society's conventional wisdom. The prophet must frequently point out the sinful ways of various segments of a society or culture. Sometimes, they must be so bold as to condemn immoral actions condoned by even the great majority of people. 

The Prophet of God must often be indifferent to public opinion. They cannot change their message because many people excuse their sinful opinions or actions by claiming, "Well, everyone else is doing it." Prophets can't be swayed from their message because everyone's heart seems hardened against the truth of God's word. The prophet's job is challenging because the prophet must proclaim God's truth to all under the most adverse conditions.

Today's readings tell us that Ezekiel, Paul, and Jesus discovered the difficulty of being God's faithful prophets. Ezekiel lived when the Chaldeans conquered Jerusalem. He was among the first group of Israelites who were forced into exile in Babylon. Despite their suffering, these Israelites failed to recognize it was their sinfulness that caused them their pain. They felt God had turned against them. They didn't realize that by trying to turn to an alliance with Egypt to protect them from the Chaldeans rather than trusting in the one true God, they had caused the suffering they were experiencing. God calls Ezekiel to point out their sinfulness to the Israelites in exile, but the people refuse to open their hearts to hear Ezekiel's message. They disregard Ezekial and claim he is crazy. They refuse to be held accountable for their actions.

Paul and Jesus encountered similar resistance to their efforts to share God's Good News with the world. Today, Christians believe Paul to be one of the greatest Christian apostles ever. In his day, some found his attributes wanting. They claimed he wasn't eloquent enough and didn't possess other essentials to make him a good messenger for Jesus Christ. That was particularly a problem with the Christian community of Corinth. In today's second reading, Paul confronts those people in a particularly sarcastic way. Today, he tells those resistant to his message they are the thorn in his flesh. Paul claims they are angels of Satan sent to humble him. He writes that God allows them to persist in pestering him so he will realize his need to depend on God's grace. 

Paul notes he has realized their criticism and disdain is part of his role as a prophet. He wrote:

"Therefore, I am content with weakness, insults, hardships,

 persecutions, and constraints,

for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Despite this opposition, Paul stayed on message and was faithful to the gospel he proclaimed.

Jesus found he was most misunderstood right in his hometown. When he came to his hometown, his fellow townspeople found him too common and ordinary to listen to and take seriously. They couldn't believe that one of their own could be God's messenger calling them to hear the Good News. Despite their lack of faith, Jesus doesn't despair and give up on his ministry. He presses on doing the will of God the Father, going up to Jerusalem to give his life on the cross. 

As a priest and preacher, I, too, am called to be a prophet. I find it a challenging calling like Ezekiel, Paul, and Jesus. I can feel uncomfortable when the signs of the times require me to preach God's difficult word to an unreceptive audience. Like the Biblical prophet of old, I would like to run and hide. When I know the message I must share will cause some people to feel upset or hurt, I can't help but try to look for some way out of the responsibility to be God's prophet. Pointing out sin is always unpopular. It makes the Prophet uncomfortable because they must be sure to be twice as aware of their sinfulness, and it must be done, like it or not. 

Catholics and the Catholic Church often find themselves in this situation. By trying to be faithful Biblical prophets, we are in a position where that faithfulness causes conflict with popular culture, changes in social norms, and the latest fads. We are sometimes unjustly accused of hurtful behavior because we desire to be faithful to God's word. In our long history, we know the consequences of our failure to be true to our call to Biblical prophecy. The Holocaust, slavery, and the sexual abuse scandal are a few examples. Therefore, our most objective opponents often admire the Church's steadfast adherence to what it believes is the truth of God's will.

Our baptismal calling gives us all the responsibility to be Biblical prophets. It isn't something that only the ordained do. All the baptized have this responsibility. It is a dangerous calling and involves great risk for all of us who choose to be faithful to God's word. God does not leave us alone to face the challenges of being a prophet. Like Paul, Ezekial, and Jesus, God gives us the grace to be prophets. God gives us the Real Presence of Jesus Christ to strengthen us to be Biblical prophets who unwaveringly proclaim the truth in the face of even the hardest of hearts.