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Friday, July 30, 2004

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St. Peter Chrysologus


Jeremiah 26:1-9
Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14
Matthew 13:54-58

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being our prophetic selves

"Thus says the Lord: if you disobey Me, not living according to the law I placed before you and not listening to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I send you constantly though you do not obey them..." —Jeremiah 26:4-5

Prophecy is to receive or give a message from God. The Church was birthed in a great outpouring of prophecy (Acts 2:17-18). Therefore, the Church is founded on the apostles and the prophets (Eph 2:20), and prophecy is an important spiritual gift to seek (1 Cor 14:1). All Christians are baptized into the prophetic ministry of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit has given many Christians the charism of prophecy (see 1 Cor 12:10).

To be true to our identity in Christ, we must be living prophetically. The first step in doing this is to obey the prophets and thereby the Lord. Do you read the prophetic books of the Bible? How has this changed your life? Have you read some of the Church's prophetic teachings on social justice and changed your lifestyle accordingly? Have you read Pope John Paul II's encyclical, Gospel of Life? Are you trying to save as many babies and parents as possible from both surgical and chemical abortion? Or are you standing idly by (see Lv 19:16) when the worst mass murder in the history of the human race is being done in your midst?

Obey the prophets. Live your baptismal participation in Christ's prophetic ministry. "Seek eagerly after love. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts — above all, the gift of prophecy" (1 Cor 14:1). Be your prophetic self in Christ.

Prayer:  Father, make prophecy as important to me as it is to You.

Promise:  "Jesus said to them, 'No prophet is without honor except in his native place, indeed in his own house.' " —Mt 13:57

Praise:  St. Peter Chrysologus, an eloquent preacher, used the gifts God gave him, preached the truth, and led many people to conversion and freedom in Christ.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Do I Have and Do I Want the Gift of Prophecy? on audio AV 14B-1 or video V-14B.)

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003