That we might dream again

The gift of prophecy. In The Prophetic Imagination, Walter Brueggemann explains that the prophetic call involves both a critical and an energizing dimension. This means that the prophet does not primarily foretell the future, but rather critiques the present state of affairs and offers a vision of the future. 

In terms of the present, the prophet, as the mouthpiece of God, calls to our attention our ways of living and dealing with one another which are against the will and ways of God. The prophet jolts and jars as he condemns the ills of society that we have suppressed, tolerated, or worse, justified. The prophet disturbs and destabilizes as she denounces evildoers we sycophants dance and dine with, praise and adore, and even elect to public office.

But in terms of the future, the prophet does not offer a blueprint. As the prophet is not a technocrat, he does not prescribe exactly how society is to be run (hence, religious groups overstep their prophetic calling when they formulate and stipulate economic and political frameworks for society). Amidst the malaise of apathy, cynicism and despair — ganito na talaga tayo, wala nang magbabago — the prophet evokes from deep within his people the memory of God’s promises, of what they are destined for, sensitizes them to their collective pain, to all that is contrary to God’s vision for them, and teaches them to dream once again, while propelling them toward communal action for societal transformation.

Jesus, prophet, but more than a prophet. Jesus was a prophet, who our Gospel reading today says was rejected by his own townspeople. He healed and forgave public sinners in the name of God, broke bread with those society had ostracized, admitted into his company women who were, then, deemed unworthy of discipleship, touched the unclean and allowed them to touch and defile him, walked through enemy territory, Samaria, condemned the teachers of the Law for their hypocrisy.

Eventually Jesus was rejected by his religious leaders who connived with the Roman authorities. If Jesus was eliminated by the powers that be, his critique of them and their ways must have been so scathing so as to threaten and infuriate them. The angry Jesus denouncing evil is an image of Jesus we Filipinos are uncomfortable embracing. We prefer the meek and mild Good Shepherd, Sacred Heart, and Divine Mercy to the fuming Jesus overturning moneychangers’ tables and calling the priestly class of his time a den of thieves.

While Jesus brought down God’s word and righteous fury, when necessary, as a prophet he also lifted his people’s gaze to a vision beyond their imaginings. As the eschatological prophet, Jesus not only proffered a vision of the ultimate future, but, through his paschal mystery, ushered in humanity’s ultimate hopes into the present — the definitive victory of God’s love over sin, death and evil.

The universal gift of prophecy. As baptized Christians we all share in the prophetic ministry of Jesus. Have we understood and appropriated the critical dimension of our prophetic call, which entails assessing the way we live as a community vis-à-vis the values of the Kingdom of God, and includes, when called for, denouncing political and socio-economic ills, all that is against the Kingdom? Or have we shirked from our responsibility as Christians to speak about our political life and speak against the forces of the anti-Kingdom?

The prophetic ministry also entails resisting the temptation to despair, and instead consists in animating others to hope in a future more in accord with the Gospel values. God has blessed us with a prophet for our times, our former president Cory Aquino, who has courageously challenged presidents and generals and powerful entities, pricked our consciences and rallied us to defend our freedoms, constantly reminding us that we are made of sterner stuff and that we are meant for greater things. As she continues to battle cancer, she has assured us that she is at peace, that she has surrendered her life totally to God. Indeed, the prophet is wholly convinced that her life lies in the hands of God.

Tita Cory, unassuming and unassailable prophet to the Filipinos, an indebted nation, continues to pray for your recovery. Rest assured of our gratitude, prayers and love.

Fr. Manoling Francisco is a prolific composer of liturgical music and serves on the faculty of the Loyola School of Theology. For feedback on this column, e-mail: [email protected]