The word of God is central to our lives. John 1: 1-3 indicates that all things were made by the word of God which is God himself. This identification of God with his word signifies our closeness with God. When we hear the word of God, it is God himself who is taking form in us. You can now understand Paul when he writes that faith comes through hearing, and what is heard is the word of God (cf. Romans 10:17). To emphasize the primacy of the word of God in Christian liturgy, Pope Francis established ‘The Sunday of the Word of God’ to be marked each year on the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. This primordial position of the word of God and its importance in our daily lives are clearly presented in the three reading we have today.
The first reading presents the post-exilic Israelites who lost the sense of direction, having been cut off from their usual reflection on the Torah. Their law, deriving directly from the word of God given to Moses and written down in the Scripture, was kept aside when they were driven into exile. They were made to practice the customs of the pagan nations around them. Upon return to their homeland, they needed to rediscover their place prior to the exile event. When the book of the law was discovered by what we might regard as divine providence during the repair of the temple, read out and explained to them, they listened attentively. They discovered, in the process, how far away they have drifted from the precepts of the covenant God made with their forefathers. Contrary to the self-perception they had developed as defeated and exiled people, they realized that they had a special relationship with God, which made them a special nation among the pagans. Unfortunately, the failure to keep to the demands of the covenant had estranged them from the many blessings of God meant for them all the while they suffered in a foreign land. That discovery brought them to tears and remorse for their sins and shortcomings. But Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites urged the people to be grateful, happy, and rejoice rather than mourn because ‘the joy of the Lord’ is their strength.
Discovering the word of God is like discovering a pearl of the greatest value because it is the discovery of God himself. The word of God enables us to understand that we come from God, live in God, and will return to God (cf. Acts 17:28). Realizing our divine origin enables us to dedicate our entire lives to following the path that God has marked out for us. As a manufacturer of a product describes in a manual the best way to use and maintain the product for optimal performance and durability, so also the word of God contained in the Bible describes the mind of God concerning us. It enables us to understand the way to live in every circumstance. As Psalm 1:1-3 indicates, meditating constantly on the law of the Lord is a great source of blessing that never runs dry. Ezra and the others urged the people to be glad because they knew that the discovery of the Book of the Law will open a new page in their lives as a nation. It will enable them to understand the will of God concerning them and enable them to cart a new path and enjoy God’s enormous blessings. They will no longer be afraid of their enemies nor dread exile so long they keep to the demands of the Law because the Lord God will be their defense. As the Psalmist puts it, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
When a person or a nation (in this case the Israelites) walks away from God that is the light (cf. John 8:12), he walks in darkness. The Israelites were driven into exile in the first place for disregarding the word of God. Its rediscovery was, therefore, a new opportunity to regain their sense of direction as a people and a nation. The value of things is sometimes better appreciated after being lost and rediscovered. But the risks involved in that process are enormous. It is not all prodigal sons and daughters that have the rare opportunity of returning home safe. That is why we must cherish our relationship with God and not allow the devil to steal it from us (cf. John 10:10).
Luke who was a disciple of Paul, having seen the great works accomplished in the spreading of the Gospel, and having seen de account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ written by others, decided to write an orderly account of it for Theophilus. It is not clear if Theophilus is an individual person or if it is a term used to refer to believers, regarded as “friends of God” (Theo – God, Philos – loving). What interests us here at this moment is that Luke’s account sought to anchor the genealogy of Jesus to Adam (whom he called the son of God – Luke 3:38b) rather than Abraham (in Matthew’s account – Matthew 1:1), and traced the incarnation of Jesus to the message of Angel Gabriel (cf. Luke 1:26). By so doing, Luke connects the salvation brought by Jesus to the account of the creation where God created everything by the power of His word. It was that word, brought by angel Gabriel to Mary that made Jesus take flesh and dwell among us (cf.John 1:14).
In the second part of the gospel, we see Jesus beginning his ministry with the reading of the Scripture in the Synagogue. He opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read a portion that is written about him. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him to preach the good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, liberty for the oppressed, and proclamation of the acceptable year of the Lord. After reading these words, Jesus said that they are fulfilled in their very eyes because they were fulfilled in him. The potency of the Gospel is in its ability to bring positive change in the lives of people. When lived and proclaimed under the influence of the Holy Spirit, the word of God brings to life what is dead, transforming the bad and ugly into goodness, sinfulness into holiness, and failure into success. The word of God is power and not just a sterile piece of history. It is alive all through the ages; ever fresh and potent.
Jesus did not just proclaim the good news, or claim the words of the prophet Isaiah to be about him. He went about doing good, healing the sick, and setting free those held in bondage by the devil (cf. Acts 10:38). Listening to the word of God and not doing what it commands does not benefit the hearer. James calls such a person a self-deceiver. He is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and goes off forgetting what he looks like (cf. James 1: 22-24). It is only by taking the necessary action that the power of the Gospel is brought to life. And the action each of us is called to take differs in kind and proportion to the gift and situation of everyone. Paul takes up that issue with the Corinthians, using the different parts of the body and its functions as a metaphor.
It is interesting to note that we are all different. Monotony, they say, kills interest. The diversity of the functions to which each of us is called is an indication that everyone has an important place in the body of Christ. No position is better or more essential than the other. They are only different. This calls for respect, a sense of duty, and responsibility. No one must think that what he or she is called to do in the body of Christ can be neglected, just as no part of the body can be considered less important or negligible. The first question, therefore, is to what extent one is conscious of his or her vocation (call to service), and what the person has been doing about it. There are many scriptural passages that remind us that we were sent on earth for a purpose. And we must do our best to fulfill that purpose.
When the Israelites wandered away from the demands of the covenant, they lost touch with their identity and special relationship with God and ended up in exile. Negligence of the word of God in our daily lives and routines can blind us from the true essence of our existence and our mission on earth. We are not here to pursue worldly pleasures, wealth, and fame for its sake. We are here to use the various gifts we have received to be an expression of God’s love, righteousness, and mercy to the world. By living acting in line with the word of God, we make him known to others thereby becoming his true disciples.
On December 26, 2021, the Filipino Catholic Community in Gouda (FCC-Gouda) and Surroundings held its Tombola fundraising event after the mass. Thanks to the sponsors who donated prizes and the community members and supporters who bought raffle tickets, the community has all together raised a total of €496 (net).
The FCC-Gouda Board would like to thank the following for your generosity, kindness and support. May God bless you all the more!
SPONSORS:
Ribex International Martin and Mary-Jane Streefland Amor Lagade Irene Hameete Marylynn van Dijk Jenny Luna Elpi Aziatische Kledingreparatie.
TOMBOLA COORDINATOR:
Irene Hameete
BEST TOMBOLA SELLER OF THIS YEAR:
Marivic Adema
And to EVERYONE who supported and bought raffle tickets, our HEARTFELT THANK YOU! With each donation we receive, we deeply appreciate your support.
THE LUCKY WINNERS
First Prize: Lucy & Kees van Ginkel 2nd Prize : Lucy & Kees van Ginkel 3rd Prize: Luz van Starre Consolation Prizes: Jojo van Oeveren Tony Farma Teun Blanken Michelle Streefland
Once again, thank you ALL for making a difference through your help and generosity!
By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp. | Sir 3:2-6.12-14; Psalm Ps 128; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:22-40
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we celebrate the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. It is important to keep an eye on our own families and recognize that the Holy Family is supposed to be a kind of mirror to help us reflect on our own families and to take some kind of resolution on how we want our family to be, and what we would like to do to keep it going. It is important to remember that no family is perfect. When you take a look at the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, you can see that when Jesus is in a family, something different happens to it because he helps us to be divine conscious, considerate of the other, as well as develop some virtues. Recall the events surrounding the conception of Jesus which made Joseph (a righteous man) plan to divorce Maria secretly so as to save her from public disgrace (cf. Matthew 1:19). If Joseph had come forward to disown Mary’s pregnancy, it would have had grave consequences for her. So, looking at the Holy Family, we can see that there are certain virtues that saved them in times of crisis. We will see those virtues as we move on in our reflection on the Holy Family.
In the Gospel, we read about Jesus who stayed back in the temple after his parents took him to Jerusalem for the annual feast of the Passover. First and foremost, this is a family that centers God in their life; a family that seeks to fulfill the demands of the Jewish religion. Therefore, they went to the Passover feast every year. When Jesus became 12 years old, they took him along. When leaving after the feast, the parents thought he was among their kinsfolk and acquaintances with whom they went to Jerusalem. But when they could not find him after a day’s journey, they returned to Jerusalem only to find Jesus sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When the parents approached him, he questioned why they were looking for him. Don’t they know that he should be in his father’s house? This episode brings out the divine nature of Jesus. Even at such a tender age as 12 years, he was so wise as to question the learned men of Israel, already knew his mission, and was filled with zeal to embrace it. But more importantly, it brings out the beautiful lesson that God lived in a human family thereby completing the story of the Incarnation.
When God took our nature, he took it completely, except sin. He was tender, weak, vulnerable, and even threatened by Herod such that they had to run to Egypt. He needed the protection of a family, he needed the protection of a father and mother. Jesus, therefore, knows the experience we undergo as humans. He has felt our pains, dependence, hardships, worries, and all that troubles us. More importantly, although he was divine, he recognized the authority of his parents over him. The bible reads, “he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them” (Luke 2:51a). The dynamics that characterize the relationship between Jesus and his parents are shown to be such that allows children to develop their given vocation in the context of gentle and understanding guidance from their parents. Though Jesus’ parents were astonished by his action, they were patient and understanding for the mystery that they could not unravel about Jesus at that time. “But his mother treasured all these things in her heart”(Luke 2:51b).
Jesus’ obedience and Mary’s loving understanding run through their relationship as recorded in the Bible. Remember that when Jesus began his ministry at the age of thirty years old, the first miracle he performed at the marriage feast in Cana was at the request of his mother (John 2). He mentioned that his hour had not come, yet he went on to do it because his mother has asked for it. This obedience is what we see in the first reading. Ben Sirach describes what obedience to God implies in the context of the relationship between parents and children. He emphasized how important it is, from the divine perspective, that children learn to obey, care for, and respect their parents. He reiterates that God honors children in respect to their parents, and considers the obligation to honor one’s parents to be an integral part of the life of faith.
Without honor to parents, one cannot claim to honor God because biblical ethics is grounded in honoring father and mother. Irrespective of the present situation of one’s parents (sick, old, deaf, whatever), or the present position a person occupies in society, the demand to love, care, and honor one’s parents remains paramount to any claim of loving and honoring God. Exodus 20:12 records honor to parents as the only commandment that has a promise attached to it, and Moses reiterated this very important command in one of his last speeches to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 5:16. It reads, “Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
It is important to always remember our origin. We all come from families and, without our parents who cared for us when we were helpless and brought us up, we could not be who we are today. Jesus recognized this. Hanging there on the cross and seeing that he was about to die, he turned and saw his mother. John 19: 25-26 read, “When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” Love and care for parents bring inner joy and a sense of fulfillment because by doing so one is fulfilling a very important task and commandment.
Taking a look at our own families, Paul gives us the virtues that will enable us to improve our relationship with each other. He noted that cordial relationship is enhanced by heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another (cf. Colossians 3:12-13). There is no relationship that can survive without tolerance, humility, and forgiveness. We are humans. We err. Therefore we need to forgive each other. A relationship is like a rose. In it, there is the beautiful flower, but also the thorn. Both make the rose. To keep a loving relationship in the family, we need the above-mentioned elements because no matter how close we are to each other in a family, there is always a little part that remains a mystery. Just as Mary did not fully understand the words of Jesus when they met him at the temple, there could be something that is going on in our family or with a family member that we do not really understand the reasons behind it at the moment. Sometimes, it could be an effect of something that happened in the past that the person is processing in the present. Therefore, we need patience, tolerance, and compassion so that we can gradually understand what is going on in the other person.
As FCC Gouda or as a parish, we are a wider family of the children of God. In this wider family, there is a wide diversity of persons and characters. But what is fundamental is that we belong to the family of Jesus who is born to us. He is the head and we are the members. Since we are different in characters, temperaments, and sensitivity, we need patience, tolerance, humility, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and love to keep this family of us going. In most families, there are those we regard as “black sheep” because we disapprove of some of the things they do. But it is important that to always remember such persons contribute something unique without which the family is not complete. Besides, we could be the ones mistaken in our judgment. So we need to love and appreciate every person, whether in our nuclear families or the wider FCC family.
While we pray for our families, let us also look inwards and ask ourselves what we could bring into our family that may be lacking in making it such as we truly desire of it.
A New Liturgical year begins today with the First Sunday of Advent. Advent means ‘Coming’. It is the Season of waiting in hope for the coming of the promised Messiah which found fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. This promise made long ago to the House of Israel and Judah in our first reading (Jer. 33:14), kept the Jews waiting for its fulfillment. They were indeed the first set of people to observe the Advent period when they waited for the coming of the promised Messiah. They remained steadfast in their preparation to welcome the Messiah knowing that God always fulfills his promises. However, given the image of the Messiah that developed in the course of their history, it was difficult for them to recognize in Jesus the Messiah they have been waiting for. As John attests, ‘Jesus came to his own but his own people did not accept him but to all those who did receive him and who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God” (Jn 1:11-12).
Christians borrowed this tradition as a means of reawakening the consciousness of the need for preparation to welcome Jesus who will come again in power to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1). The Church places this special period of preparation at the beginning of the Liturgical year when we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on the reason behind the birth of Jesus, his teaching and salvific death and resurrection as well as calls us to prepare for his second coming in glory.
Many ancient prophets had foretold that the Lord’s day would really be a terrible day. “Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it” (Isaiah 13:9-13; Joel 2:1-2; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:14-18). It will be a day of judgment for some and a day of jubilation for others depending on where a person stands in his or her relationship with God and humanity. The virtuous will raise their heads in glory while the vicious will tremble in fear. It will be a day of joy and sadness, a day of commendation and condemnation, a day of reward and punishment. Whatever one sows, one will reap.
Jesus noted that there will be great signs in the heavens that will cause the heavenly bodies as well as the earth to tremble. “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and great glory” (Luke 21:26-27). And he added, “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand” (Luke 21:28). We can observe two sets of people from the above citations: namely, those to die of fear and those strengthened by faith. Just as men will be dying of fear, many will be joyful in faith. Fear and faith are opposites, predominant one determines one’s fate. More importantly, a predominance of fear in this regard is an indication of something unbecoming about the person because, as John puts it, “For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love (1 John 4:18).
Jesus warns his followers not to end up in fear and destruction because his coming should be a joyful liberation from all that oppresses them rather than being a source of worry and fear for the wrong they might have done. Consequently, he call on them to always stay awake. They must not get carried away by neither the pleasure of life nor by the anxieties of daily life. Whatever happens, they must remain focused on the most important business of human existence – to seek first the kingdom of God in all things (Matthew 6:33). Jesus is aware of the lure of pleasures to which humans are exposed, but also of the difficulties and troubles of daily life which can preoccupy a person to such an extend that the person loses focus on what really matters in life, even to lose focus on God. At the beginning of his ministry, after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus underwent three major temptations (Luke 4:1-12). He was tempted with turning stone into bread when he was hungry. So he knows that hunger and hardship can influence a person’s attitude. He was equally tempted with riches that has driven many to worship the Devil. Finally, he was tempted with the lure of power, showmanship and fame. But being awake to the demands of his mission and having prepared himself with prayer and fasting, Jesus overcame the tempter with words of the scripture.
As we get closer to the celebration of Christmas, we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus. People do this preparation in different ways. Paul preached the second coming of Jesus to the Thessalonians, and some of them stopped working and waiting in idleness for Jesus to come and take them to heaven. Paul had to correct that impression in his second letter to them. Some prepare by decorating their homes, getting new cloths, fireworks and planning for house parties. Whichever way we want to prepare for Christmas, the most important thing is to remember that it is about Jesus’ coming, not just a birthday party. And Jesus has told us how to prepare for his coming – we must stay awake and not be carried away by pleasures of life or the anxieties of daily life. His coming must not catch us unaware or unprepared. It is very easy for one to get caught up in the affairs of this world and so remains spiritually indifferent and passive.
Taking a look at the event taking place in the world presently, there is so much to occupy everyone. The world has been fighting the outbreak of Corona for the past two years. When one thinks that we are getting over the situation, the arrival of a new variant is announced. This is certainly a source of worry as it affects virtually everything we do. Yet, Jesus is reminding us that such anxiety should not shut our eyes out of the bigger picture. God is still the ruler of the universe. He was there during all the pandemics in history, the wars, the earthquakes and other terrible things that have happened, and he brought them to an end. Rather than become afraid and worry, therefore, it is for us to trust in him and call upon him in faith while we do the best we can in the struggle to curtail the situation. Fear can sometimes be destructive, but faith leads to positive actions that yield the needed fruits.
It is mostly when we are awake and in the state of spiritual alertness, that we can easily overcome the devil’s intrigue, make good and positive choices and decisions in life and engage ourselves in some beneficial activities. Taking a cue from Jesus (cf. Luke 4:1-12) we could see that being spiritually awake is enhanced by intense and regular prayer life frees us from anxieties and fears over what is happening in the world, sharpens our ability to make right judgements and strengthens our will to do things right. It equally moves us to take steps to render helping hands to those in need, stand up for those unfairly treated, forgive and reconcile with friends, family and others around us. So, stay awake for the Lord is coming in glory to redeem his people. Amen.
By Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp. (Numbers 11:25-29, James. 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)
Dear brothers and sisters,
The readings of today point to the universality of the mission of Christ. We all are called in one way or another to take part in one way or the other. They also point to the fact that Christ’s mission is diverse, touching every sphere of life. It is not restricted to the Sanctuary of the Church but permeates the secular life – there where we find ourselves.
First Reading this Sunday from the Book of Numbers (Num.11:25-29) presents us with the institution of collective leadership of Seventy Elders to whom God gives a share in the spirit of Moses, that they may also share in the enormous leadership burden of Moses to lead the people of Israel with all their incessant complaints.
While these Seventy Elders were filled with the Spirit, they began to prophesy. However, two men who were not among the Seventy Elders by name; Eldad and Medad, were in the camp prophesying as well. And Joshua reported this to Moses and demands that Moses should stop them, in reply Moses said; “Are you jealous on my behalf? How I would wish that, all God’s people are prophets with the spirit of the Lord upon them” (Num.11:29).
Corroborating the lessons of the above first reading, the Gospel reading of today (Mk.9:38-48) presents us with a similar incident in which Jesus reprimands his disciples for their Jealousy and Suspicion. Here, the apostles (like Joshua) reported an incident to Jesus, of a man who was not one of them but was driving out demons in the name of Jesus and they tried to stop him. In response, Jesus ordered; “Don’t prevent him. No one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us”, Mk9:39-40.
The choice of seventy elders commissioned in the first reading points to the mission of the seventy disciples of Christ (see Luke 10:1ff). The numerical agreement in both texts shows Jesus as the new Moses and confirms the universal dimension of his mission. The number 70 also recapitulates the account of the origin of the 70 nations of the ancient world (see Genesis 10); which connotes universality. Thus, the commissioning of the seventy elders and subsequent mission of the seventy disciples, anticipate the universality of the missionary plan of God, seeing in the number “seventy,” a glimmer of catholicity. No one is left out in the work of God, and no nation is excluded.
This is also true about Eldad and Medad who were absent from the tent of meeting and still received the Spirit. This generous flow of the Spirit beyond the tent of meeting is exegetically eloquent about the secular apostolate to which many are called. Eldad and Medad represent those called to minister outside the sanctuary, located within the ordinary sphere of secular life; and called to sanctify the secular sector with the spirit of the gospel. In this sense, every sector of social life is a sanctuary and a pulpit of sorts. In daily interactions with one another, we communicate the love of God to others. We preach the gospel of the kingdom of love and justice more with our actions than words. By so doing, we return our love to God through the services we render to others. Our social interactions in the secular sphere become an apostolate and a means of serving God by sharing his love. This is the very apostolate that Saint James emphasizes in the second reading; namely, serving God in others through social justice.
Many of us are engaged in different professions, entrepreneurial activities, and positions, medical assistance, civil and commercial services. Such positions should be seen as different vocations and apostolates for the service of God through humanity. Saint James calls all within these secular apostolic fields to uphold the principles of justice and love. Employers should not treat employees as objects or instruments of labor, but as humans with dignity and right. The wealthy should see wealth as an instrument of service to humanity. Not to help someone in need when the means are available is to kill. To store up wealth that one does not need is to store God’s wrath against oneself. With material goods, we can feed Christ in the poor (see Matt. 25:34ff).
The readings also present us with the call to missionary cooperation. Leadership in God’s household is a collaborative task, and not just that of an individual. But the leadership team needs to be of one mind and one heart, filled with the same Spirit in order to execute their task in the Spirit of Christ. There is, in the case of the seventy elders, the unity of spirit. All received the same spirit that was in Moses. Here lies the great caution. We are called to participate in the mission of Christ, and to share in his Spirit. Having the Spirit of Christ is very important.
It is not enough to work with the name of Jesus. One also needs to have the spirit of the Master. Today, many profess the name of Jesus but with the spirit of Mammon, others prophesy in his name but with the spirit of divination (see Acts 16). Hence the apostle says: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9). The fact that Jesus allows those that use his name does not imply approval. It is the same way he allows the wheat and the tare to grow together till the judgment day. On that day, many will say to him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name, and many mighty works in your name” and he will say to them “I never knew you, depart from me you evildoers” (Matt. 7:22-23).
Not all who use the name of Jesus are genuine. Hence, he warns: “take heed that no one leads you astray, for many will come in my name …. And they will lead many astray” (Matt. 24:4-5). Working in the name of Jesus also requires participation in his Spirit.
The readings are also a warning against jealousy and unnecessary suspicion. We see Joshua asking his master Moses, to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying because they were not in the tent with them. A similar incident happened with the disciples of Jesus who tried stopping the man casting out demons in the name of Jesus simply because he does not belong to their group. This is simply the same pattern of discrimination, racism, and party spirit. That someone is different, thinks differently, or does not belong to our group of friends, religion, or whatever does not take away the good things the person can do.
We cannot restrict the Spirit of God or decide for God who to use, inspire, bless and uplift. The Spirit of God is everywhere and can operate with anyone He chooses. Jealousy and suspicion act like a virus, spreads fast among group members, lead to gossip, and brings division. When we learn to appreciate everyone, we can see that the mission of God can bear more fruit through cooperation rather than division and party spirit.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the missionary mandate, prefigured in the election of the seventy elders, is a universal call. We all have a part in the mission through our respective walks of life. As some are called to preach the Word with their voices from the pulpit others are called to preach the Word with their lives through their different professions and states of life. About the latter group of preachers, the psalm says: “There is no speech, no words; their voice is not heard; yet their words go out through all the earth, their messages, to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:4-5). We are all called to the prophetic ministry of the church. This prophecy is not about foretelling the future, but forthtelling the Word of God by word and by action.
