3RD SUNDAY IN ADVENT A
THE PROPHET AND THE
BULLY
The world today is run by
loudmouths.
They raise their voice high so
that people will think they are strong.
They use vulgar and offensive
language so that people will consider them fearless.
They use their platform, whether
their government office or their media office to humiliate people.
They want people to think that
they are powerful, that they are the idols the world needs to have.
Such is the strategy of
…the elected official who thinks
he is more powerful than God
…of the radio announcer who
thinks he is battling evil except the evil in himself
…of the cult leader who thinks he
can command the earthquake to stop (but cannot stop the longest running soap
opera in the country).
No other word is apt for these
people but “bully.”
Bullies reign for awhile, and
then fade in dishonor and shame.
For there will always be a
genuine person who will make the bully fall to his knees one day.
The prophet is different; he is
clearly not a bully.
The prophet raises his voice not
to project his strength but to extol the greatness of God.
The prophet speaks in
conscientious terms but only to bring people back to their senses.
The prophet uses his power not to
put down but to help people find the light again.
John the Baptist is the greatest
prophet, says the Lord Jesus in the gospel today.
He is faithful to his mission… he
lives in simplicity and freedom… he speaks the message of the Lord.
This Advent, the Lord is asking
us, who we listen to.
Do we like to listen to the bully
because he sounds great to our ears although his message is empty?
Do we listen to the prophet who
tells us how to prepare our hearts to be the dwelling place of God?
It is such a shame that in a
Christian country like ours, people prefer the words of bullies over the words
of prophets.
However, it is also good to ask,
are there still prophets in the community of faith?
Are people listening to the
bullies because the prophets are nowhere to be found?
While we look for prophets who
will lead us to the Lord, consider this:
Maybe you are the prophet who
will lead others to
… the truth
… the right way
… the light
… the faith
they need to discover.
Christmas is almost here. Let us
pray to the Lord Jesus to help us discover the prophets in our midst, but in a
special way, the prophet hiding in our hearts.
(pls share to a friend...)
