“One of the ancient prophets has arisen”
The Gospel reading, Jesus gives his first prophecy of His own Passion.
Why does Jesus prophecy His Passion? “Jesus prophesied his Passion and Death in order to help his disciples believe in him. It also showed that he was freely accepting these sufferings he would undergo. ‘Christ did not seek to be glorified: he chose to come without glory in order to undergo suffering; and you, who have been born without glory, do you wish to be glorified? The route you must take is the one Christ took. This means recognizing him and it means imitating him both in his ignominy and in his good repute; thus you will be glorified in the Cross, which was how he himself was glorified. That was what Paul did, and therefore he gloried in saying, “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ”’”[i].
What is prophecy? “The certain prediction of future events that cannot be known by natural means. However, the biblical meaning of the Hebrew hozeh (prophecy) is more general, namely ‘vision’ or ‘revelation interpreted.’ Those who were called upon to prophesy did, indeed, on occasion also foretell future events, but these predictions fulfilled were divine confirmations of an authentic vision rather than the vision itself. Prophecies as predictions are consequently part of God’s supernatural providence. God, in whose sight all things future are ever present, is able to communicate to his creatures the knowledge that he has. He alone finally has this power, because certain foreknowledge of the contingent future is possessed only God. Prophecies are the words of his prescience, just as miracles are the work of his omnipotence. Hence a religion supported by prophecies must be divine.”[ii]
What is a prophet? “One sent by God to form the people of the Old Covenant in the hope of salvation. The prophets are often authors of books of the Old Testament. The prophetic books constitute a major section of the Old Testament of the Bible. John the Baptist concludes the work of the prophets of the Old Covenant.”[iii]
Is Jesus a prophet? Jesus is not a prophet, but the prophet as well as the high priest and the king of kings. Jesus is not the same term of prophet as the people thought He was when we read the Gospel reading, “still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen..’”[iv] Some thought He was the prophet Elijah. What prophets were in the Old Covenant were those people who God had spoken through. This what we say in the creed, “He has spoken through the prophets”. Jesus however is God incarnate. He is speaking the truth not just through Him, but His very being is Truth. So while He makes prophecies, He speaks on His own accord and not through anything.
Are there any more prophets today? Yes. If one has been baptized in Christ, then one takes on the task of Christ as priest, prophet and king. “The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one’ anointed’ by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king.”[v] We have to remember that we are not the same type of prophets as the Old Testament/Old Covenant who prophesied the coming of the Messiah because He has already come. We prophesy and testify to Jesus Christ death and resurrection in the New and Eternal Covenant We prophesy the one true faith in Jesus. This is one of our roles as Christians.
[i] The Navarree Bible Luke 9:22
[ii] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 446
[iii] Catechism of the Catholic Church Glossary, pg. 895
[iv] Luke 9:19
[v] CCC 1241