THE CALL OF THE HOLY APOSTLES: THE TRUE NATURE OF PROPHECY

 The story of the calling of the first apostles gives us an example of faith. We recall the importance of the virtue of faith, because it is the first of the theological virtues, and it is the key to the others (hope and charity), since it is not possible to hope in something or to love something, which we do not know. First of all, we must know a thing. Then, we can hope in it and love it. Thus, we see the central position of faith in the spiritual life, because faith is a way of knowing, since through this virtue we assent to all the truths that God has revealed. Therefore, we see that the virtue of faith truly has two parts. The first part is this assent to the truths that God has revealed, and the second part is practical, because, on account of this assent, we trust God to order everything to our good. Then, we witness the birth of the virtue of hope in us, when, trusting God in everything, we expect to receive all the things that He has promised, just as we express in the creed: “I expect the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.”

The holy Apostles are an example of faith, because they leave their old life to accept the invitation of the Lord Jesus. Through this invitation, they become fishermen of people, seeking to enclose all men in the net of the Holy Gospel.  In this same way, when we were baptized into Christ, we left our old life not only of sin and death, but also of interest in and attachment to worldly things.  So, the Christian learns to recognize the will of the Lord, as the basis and source of all his circumstances.  In this way, each one of us becomes a prophet, just as King David was, when he, pointing to the tribulations and adversities of Israel, said, “this change was wrought by the hand of the Most High.”

Truly, this verse from the seventy-sixth psalm is a very useful measure for our thoughts and intentions, since it includes the clear essence of prophecy.  If we truly are prophets in Christ, then we need the understanding to recognize all circumstances, joys and troubles, as the compassionate expressions of God’s will.  We need to point to each part of our life and say, “This change has been wrought by the hand of the Most High.” So, we will find joy in all circumstances, even in troubles, not because we like sorrow and suffering, but because we love God, Who desired them for His own compassionate reasons. Having this vantage point on our own life, we are able to help others too, guiding them to acceptance of God’s loving plans.

Through the mystery of Baptism, the Christian becomes conformed to Christ Jesus, and, therefore, he becomes a priest, a prophet and a king.  The Holy Apostles, when they accepted the invitation of the Lord Jesus, immediately began to follow this path to the fullness of prophecy, since they began to receive a new perspective on the world—a perspective according to the plan of God, not according to the opinions of men.  In the end, they learned that the greatest misfortune was truly the greatest grace, when they witnessed the suffering, crucifixion and death of their Master. Only in the light of the resurrection were they able to proclaim in the same spirit as the Prophet King David, “This change was wrought by the hand of the Most High.”

How different are the ways of our Lord, the True God, from the ways of the pagan false gods! Never does He rule through coercion, since He very gently cares for the human race, because the human being is His image. The human person has value in him or herself.  He revealed that He does not desire the death of the sinner, but that the sinner turn to Him and live. Just as the Lord Jesus says to us: “I came that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” The compassion of the Lord, the True God is apparent even in the period of the Old Testament, when He saved the sinners of the city of Nineveh, explaining to the Prophet Jonah: “You are sorrowful on account of the gourd plant that grew up beside you, but that you did not grow, --that sprang up in a single night, and in a single night perished. But should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city, in which live a hundred and twelve thousand souls, who cannot distinguish their right hands from their left?” The Prophet Jonah thought that the concept of prophecy included vengeance on his enemies, but, believing that, he betrayed the true, pure nature of prophecy. Prophecy is the interpreter of human history, because it teaches us that “all things work together unto good for those, who love God.”

When we follow the example of the Holy Apostles, accepting the invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ to new life in Him, we become prophets, not foretelling the future—we do not have a crystal ball—we do not read palms—no, we have the true gift of prophecy, the ability to recognize God’s will, compassionately working in all things unto good.