Our baptisms not only make us members of “the priesthood of all the baptized,” they call us to imitate all the prophets, but especially Jesus.
As prophets, we follow the example of the Old Testament prophets who serve God’s people by consoling and challenging. Our baptisms call us to imitate the Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel – and the Minor Prophets – Hosea, Amos and the rest. Most of all, our baptisms call us to console and challenge as Jesus did.
Members of St. Joe’s already console in marvelous ways, by habitually “speakingto the weary the words that can rouse them,” by helping to mend broken hearts on the playground, in hospitals, at funeral homes, at Starbucks, at homeless shelters, at all manner of workplaces, and dozens of other places. You console the broken hearted through your words and, more importantly, through your actions.
The same is true of your efforts to challenge the misdirected. You do it in many places and many ways. You sometimes speak the challenging word and, far more frequently, you present a challenging example. Your actions and the peace they yield dare the misdirected to make better choices. You are fine prophets.
Each of us is also a prophet positioned to take a next step in our efforts to serve others as an agent of Christ’s consolation and challenge. The “150 Points-of-Light Program” provides one terrific option for taking next steps along the ways of consoling and challenging. The “150 Next Ministerial Steps” program provides another.
The Third CL Challenge: Take a Next Step in Service in the 150 Points-of-Light (POL) Program
Complete One Points-of-Light Project
The Fourth CL Challenge: Take a next step in service by helping an existing ministry
Help Satisfy one ministry's request for help