The Third Monday of Lent

“Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land. It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon. Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

We are all called to be prophets of the Good News and as such we should expect to be rejected by others who do not wish to hear what we have to say. However, we cannot let others keep us from spreading the Gospel. Just like Jesus, we cannot be afraid of speaking the truth. We might not be popular for it. We might even be persecuted. But it is the right thing to do no matter what. This is a difficult calling, especially in an age that preaches ambiguity over truth. Nevertheless, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves by telling the truth and acting as Jesus would, even if it costs us our lives.

How can we be better prophets of God’s Love for His children? Are we willing to be rejected by family, friends and neighbors in order to proclaim the Good News? Are we brave enough to speak the truth even when others do not want to hear it?

O Lord, help us to be prophets of your sanctifying Gospel.

Amen.