Where have all the prophets gone?

Sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) explained the relations between leaders and the followers; rulers and the subjects in three ways. Their relation is a power relation in which one party exercises control over the other party. This power comes from different sources. For example, at the beginning of a movement, a revolution, the charisma of the leaders is so enchanting that the followers are willing to surrender their autonomy to the leaders. However, charisma is a gift you are born with. It is rather unstable and unpredictable if such a charisma comes from God. Therefore, charismatic leaders would set up some routines, which in time would become customs, to reinforce their control over the crowd and to pass on the control to their handpicked successors. This kind of authority no long depends on the charisma of the leaders. It comes from tradition. For example, the Church and the British monarchy. This kind of power relations have survived in human history for many centuries until they are challenged by rationalism of the modern age. It is difficult to defend traditions rationally. There arises rational legal system which confers authority, for example, to policemen to search your house for incriminating evidence. Does this analysis sound reasonable? It does appeal to the modern ears. In fact, this kind of reasoning is the outcome of the historicism to which Weber subscribed. You don't have to agree with him.

The Church is huge and needs a structure to support. In order to prevent her collapse, disruptive elements have to be eliminated whenever they arise. In the early church, there were apostles, prophets, teachers etc.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).
Gradually, prophets vanished from the hierarchy. Where have all the prophets gone?
Prophets are spokesmen of God. They contribute their gifts to the running of the church. For example, Agabus had foretold a famine and the disciples collected relief to be sent to Judea (Acts 11:28). In the Church of Antioch, Barnabas and Saul were prophets among them (Acts 13:1). In time however, prophets become critics to the establishment. This has been testified throughout the ages. They become disruptive elements in the church and vanished from the hierarchy.

But has God bestowed no more this prophetic gift to members of the Church? Has time so changed that God no longer sends us this charisma? Very unlikely. But where can we find prophets in the Church?
In baptism, Christians partake in the three offices of Jesus: king, priest and prophet. Christians are kings to carry out God's will. Christians are priests to pray and offer sacrifices for the people. Christians are prophets to proclaim God's messages. Therefore, all Christians are potential kings, priests and prophets. I saidpotential because if Christians don't exercise their offices, these gifts will remain dormant. Though prophets have been displaced from the hierarchy, all Christians are called to carry on with the prophetic role. Beware, there are true prophets as well as false ones!
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3).
The Holy Spirit woke up their prophetic charisma to proclaim God's message to the world. The Church sanctioned it with her routines: fasting, praying and laying of hands. The Holy Spirit is our constant source of charisma. The Church formalizes it in sacraments.

Dear Lord, You are an inexhaustible source of heavenly gifts. We praise You. May we make good use of these gifts to build up the Church, to reconcile the world to the Father. Amen.