WE TOO ARE PROPHETS

John the Baptist was a humble and courageous proclaimer of Christ; pointing to Christ when everyone else lost sight of Him. He never claimed to be the Christ but only His forerunner. He risked everything even his very own life in the name of truth; to proclaim the Truth. 

We too are made prophets! In our baptism, we were anointed with the chrism of salvation making as participants of Christ's priest, kingly and prophetic office. By our baptism, we are made prophets. And like John the Baptist, we are too proclaim Christ and the truths of His message to man; to proclaim the truth even if it means dying in the name of God. We are to proclaim God's truth; to be courageous proclaimers of the Good News.

How are we to proclaim the Truth? We have to study our Christian faith. Read the Bible. Read the Catechism. We have to pray that we may encounter God and verify the truths we have learn from our studies. And these truths and the Truth move us to act, to preach without compromises, to preach even if we are reduced to a voice in the wilderness.

Today, truths of our faith are in question. One calls our God stupid for allowing original sin to enter His perfect creation. How do we respond to this question and accusation? Or are even disturbed by these questions and accusations about our Catholic faith?

We too are prophets! We have to make a stand for our faith; the very faith for which Christ came to the world and died just to be proclaimed for our sake. Dare to live out this faith. Dare to preach this faith. There are no lukewarm Catholics who fail to stand for what we believe in, who are neither hot nor cold.

There are 83 million Catholics out of 105 million Filipinos. By our baptism, we are 83 million prophets, proclaimers of the Truth in this country. But look at our country. What have we made out of it? Have we transformed it into a Christian, Catholic community? Are the values we uphold consistent with the Catholic values we ought to proclaim?

In recent months, three Catholic priests were ruthlessly murdered. They were killed in the name of the truths they proclaimed against human right violations (Fr. Tito Paez), irresponsible mining (Fr. Mark Ventura), and for defending our faith (Fr. Richmond Nilo). Their lives do not serve as an example for priests and religious alone. Their lives are set as an inspiration before all of us, 83 million Filipino Catholics. This is what it means to be a Catholic, to be shared of Christ's prophetic ministry; to preach the Truth even if it means risking our heads to a silver platter.

We are 83 million John the Baptists in this country. How many of us are ready to preach the Truth of our Catholic faith without any compromises? How many of us are prepared to die for this Faith? Three priests had set an example for us. John the Baptist had set a standard for us. Christ crucified is our archetype, our perfect inspiration.

Take courage dear friends!

FOR WE TOO ARE PROPHETS!