Whenever God speaks to a prophet it is serious:

Whenever God speaks to a prophet it is serious:

How many times he has called and sent someone with a critical message to warn his chosen people regarding their disregard to his word.  We have read about God’s calling to Isaiah; The vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, had concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezehiah, kings of Judah.   Hear O heavens, and listen, O earth, for the Lord speaks: Sons have I raised and reared, but they have disowned me!  An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master’s manger.  But Israel  does not know, my people have not understood.  Ah!  Sinful nation, people laden with wickedness, evil race, corrupt children!  They have forsaken the Lord, spurned the Holy One of Israel, apostasized.  Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a scanty remnant, We had become like Sodom, we should be like Gomorrah.  Hear the word of the Lord, princes of Sodom!  Your hands are full of blood!  Wash yourselves clean!  Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good.  Make justice your aim: redress the wronged, hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.  (Is 1: 1 - 4, 9 - 10, 15 b - 17).

The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah,of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin.  The word of the Lord first came to him in the days of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah in the thirteenth year of his reign, and continued through the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, and until the downfall of Jerusalem in the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, son of Josiah, king of Judah.  The word of the Lord came to me thus:  Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.  “Ah, Lord God!”  I said, “I know not how to speak: I am too young.”   Then the Lord answered me, say not, “I am too young,” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.  Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See I place my words in your mouth !  This day I set you over nations  and over kingdoms, to root up and tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and plant.”  (Jer 1: 1 - 10).  

The word of the Lord came to the priest Ezekial:  He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you ;eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.  So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.  Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.  Thus the word of the Lord came to me; Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel.  When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me.  If I say to the wicked man, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.  If, on the other hand, you have warned the wicked man, yet he has not turned away from his wicked conduct, then he shall die for his sin, but you will save your life.   (Ez 1, 4, 17 - 21).

From all three prophets we get the sense that as prophets (priests or speakers) who do not put these words of God into a virtuous understanding that as shepherds we are to ensure that any sinner who is not following your guide because you have not warned them will face a punishment that may condemn you as well.  If this ordination is a stumbling block to you do not accept the hands of ordination.  None of us can wear the vestments of Holy Orders and hold the blessings of this Sacrament for our own good without first giving the blessings to the sinners in our midst.  The word of God is designated to lifting the poor man out of an evil existence before ever seeking any benefits from our ordination.

The Lord hears the cry of the poor; Blessed be the Lord!

Ralph B. Hathaway