大聲疾呼的先知（若1:1-18）
若翰洗者是舊約的最後一位先知，耶穌基督曾稱讚他，說他比先知還大。（瑪11:9）他與亞納，以不同的形式履行先知的任務。亞納從羅馬帝國在猶大進行殖民地統治開始，以一個寡婦身份，在聖殿裡度一個亡國的生活，以齋戒祈禱，期待著上主的救贖，她象徵著猶太民族的命運。她看到聖嬰耶穌的三十年後，若翰在曠野出現，大聲疾呼地喚醒世人，以悔改預備自己的心靈，迎接快要出現的救世主。兩者都是先知，代表天主向世人發言，但兩者的風格，因應時代的不同而迴然不同！
首先，我們領洗時已分擔了耶穌基督的君王、司祭和先知三重職務，因此履行先知之職，是本份，是沒有商榷的餘地。
其次，雖然我們「不是那光，祇是為那光作證」（1:8），但我們的作證，讓其他人獲得生命（1:4），而且是永恆的生命（3:36），是更豐富的生命（10:10）；讓相信耶穌基督名字的人，有權成為天主的子女（1:12），恩寵上加恩寵（1:16）。你們評斷罷，值得嗎？
天父啊！一年將盡，讓我們數算一年來所蒙受的恩寵，知所感謝。倘若祢願意的話，讓我們來年繼續勉力履行先知之職。亞孟！
圖片鳴謝：https://christchurchwindsor.ca/2014/08/29/beheading-of-st-john-the-baptist-3/
"Prophet Series#2"
A Yelling Prophet (John 1:1-18)
John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament. Jesus Christ once praised him to be "more than a prophet" (Matthew 11:9) He and Anna discharged their prophetic ministry in different manners. From the beginning of the Roman colonial rule in Judah, Anna, in the capacity of a widow, led a life of a conquered people, fasting and praying in the Temple to anticipate God's redemption. She symbolized the fate of the Jewish people. Thirty years after Anna saw infant Jesus, John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, yelling at people to repent and to prepare their hearts to receive the imminent Saviour. Both were prophets, spokespersons of God. Yet, their styles differed drastically in response to the demands of the time!
As a spokesperson of God, few prophets were as lucky as Jonah who was accepted by all the inhabitants of Nineveh. Sometimes, when the time was not ripe, the words and deeds of a prophet would be ignored. Some prophets were even killed because their words went against the current! At the beginning of her widowhood when the Romans began their colonial rule of Judah, had Anna, like John the Baptist after her, yelled at the people to repent, how many people would have listened? Even what she spoke about the infant Jesus was not recorded by Luke the Evangelist! Take a look at John the Baptist. He bore witness to the truth. Not only was he misunderstood by the religious authority (John 1:19-27), but he was also beheaded in the end! Puzzled, we would naturally ask if it is worthwhile to serve as a prophet!
First of all, we partake in the three offices of king, priest and prophet of Jesus Christ when we were baptized. Therefore, relieving us of the prophet's duties is out of the question.
Secondly, we are "not the light, but come to testify to the light" (1:8). Our witness enables people "to have life" (1:4); and "have eternal life" (3:36) and "have it more abundantly" (10:10); let those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ have the "power to become children of God" (1:12), have "grace in place of grace" (1:16). Judge for yourselves, is it worthwhile?
Heavenly Father! As the year comes to the end, let us count what grace we have received and know to be grateful. If it be Your will, let us continue to discharge the prophetic ministry diligently in the year ahead. Amen!
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