“He is a prophet”
In today’s Gospel, we encounter a man blind from birth whom Jesus miraculously heals. When it is discovered he was healed, the blind man is taken to the Pharisees and questioned by them, “How were your eyes opened?” The blind man answers it was “the man called Jesus.” When pressed about what he had to say concerning Jesus, the blind man answers, “he is a prophet.” After giving witness, defending Jesus, and being thrown out of the temple, Jesus finds the blind man and they speak. Jesus asks the blind man if he believes in the Son of Man and then reveals to him that he, Jesus, is the one. The blind man immediately responds “I do believe, Lord” and worships him. Similar to last week’s Gospel with the woman at the well, we find that the blind man’s perception of Jesus grows and develops through reasoning and conversation. The blind man first recognizes Jesus as a man and then moves to call him a prophet and finally confesses Jesus is the Son of Man.
“Jesus fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet, and king.” [1]
What is a prophet? The biblical term, prophet, refers to one who spoke, acted, or wrote under the extraordinary influence of God to make known the divine counsels and will. Their primary role was to proclaim the word of God; additionally most prophets could also foretell future events. Their role was to both proclaim and make the proclamation credible. [2]
How is Jesus a prophet? If the primary role of a prophet is to proclaim the word of God, then Jesus is the truest prophet that could ever be. St. John of the Cross comments, “In giving us his Son, his only Word (for he possesses no other), he spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word - and he has no more to say…because what he spoke before to the prophets in parts, he has now spoken all at once by giving us the All Who is His Son.” [3]
How are we strengthened as a prophet? We are teachers; we adhere to the true faith and profess the faith. We also are commanded to communicate the faith and the new covenant we have with Jesus Christ to the world. Those who communicate the faith are specifically prayed for at each Mass, after the prayers for the Pope and Bishop. “We offer you first of all for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant N. our Pope and N. our Bishop, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith.” [4] We are all called by our baptism to hold to the truth and hand it on, but we need prayers to do this faithfully.
What is a priest? A priest is a mediator who offers a true sacrifice in acknowledgment of God’s supreme dominion over human beings and in expiation for their sins. In today’s Gospel, Jesus acts as a priest by restoring the blind man’s sight.
How is a priest different from a prophet? A priest mediates from the people to God while a prophet communicates from God to the people.
How is Jesus a priest? Jesus, who is God and man, is the first, last, and greatest priest of the New Law. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews compared Jesus to the great high priest in the Old Testament, Melchizedek. Melchizedek is the one who blessed Abraham. (Gen. 14:17-24). Jesus’ two natures, being fully human and fully God make him the perfect mediator. He is the eternal high priest who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice. He is the final sacrifice, the same sacrifice we come to at every Mass. Jesus “entered once and for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” [5] He is the greatest High Priest in “he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.” [6] [7] [8]
How are we like priests? The Lord had made the apostles the first priests and this priesthood was passed down. The ordained priest takes on the role of mediating between Christ and us. He brings us the Sacraments, and especially the Mass. We accept our suffering as Christ did, we are willing to do penance. We with the priest are able to offer ourselves in sacrifice with Christ through the Eucharistic liturgy. They offer the Mass in the sense we internally unite ourselves with the outward offering made by the ordained priest alone. [9] We are more than half way done with Lent, have we connected our fasting and suffering with Christ, the High Priest? Have we prayed for our priests and their example and sacrifices?
What is a King? Kings are generally associated with a male who rules or governs a people occupying land. In a theological sense, the “Kings” represent the Kings of the nation of Israel under David, Solomon, and Saul. When the Kingdom was split into two and eventually thrown into Exile, they dreamt of restoring the Kingdom, and the one King that would rule forever, the Messiah.
How is Jesus a King? In the Feast of the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel spoke of Jesus who would “sit on the throne of David his father, and rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” [10] When the Magi went looking for Jesus they were looking for the new King. During his passion in order to mock him the Romans placed a crown of thorns on his head, and above the cross Pontius Pilot had written, “King of the Jews”. [11]
How are we like kings? We are leaders, leading others to Salvation. We have good character, one that can withstand bad examples, peer pressure, and seduction. We have the confidence and strong personality to lead others in Christ’s Kingdom.
How does our baptism make us prophet, priest and king? Our baptism unites us to Christ, who is prophet, priest and king. At all of our baptisms the priest or deacon said the following words and then anointed the crown of our heads with the chrism of salvation. “God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as members of his body, sharing everlasting life.” To live as a member of his body, we must do what He did. We must be a prophet, priest and king each day of our life. We must follow in the footsteps of our Lord. “The Lord tells us: I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. In these few words he gives a command and makes a promise. Let us do what he commands.” [12]
How is the Church prophet, priest and king? Jesus established a Church and said to the apostles, the leaders of the Church, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” [13] What did the Father send Jesus to do? Jesus spent His public ministry primarily doing three things. He healed people (priest), He taught people (prophet), and He lead people to the way the truth (king). The Church was sent by Christ to continue the mission. The Church continues, primarily through the Sacraments to heal. The Church continues through the ordained who preach and the lay who teach, to bring the Gospel to people. The Church continues to guide and lead people to the way to the truth, to govern the souls of mankind through the leadership primarily of the Pope and Bishops. The Church is the fullness of truth and that true comes from three sources. Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium. Sacred Tradition is like the priest, because it is the first priests and Jesus the high priest that are responsible for handing down to us the traditions, especially the liturgy and the Sacraments. Sacred Scripture, centered on the Gospel, is the focus of our preaching and teaching. At ever Mass there is an old testament, psalm, New Testament and Gospel proclaimed. The Magisterium (Pope and Bishops) is the King, the governing force, which leads and guides us in areas of doctrine, morals and liturgy. We are blessed in the Catholic Church to have the full Body of Christ, both the Church universal and each member of the faithful, continuing the Life of Christ.
How does being a prophet, priest and king have to do with penance? Penance is to make sacrifices, pray to God and to give to the poor both money and good works. Priests make sacrifice, which is why the Code of Cannon Law recommends that priests offer the Sacrifice of Mass daily. “Remembering always that in the mystery of the Eucharistic Sacrifice the work of redemption is continually being carried out, priests are to celebrate frequently. Indeed, daily celebration is earnestly recommended, because, even if it should not be possible to have the faithful present, it is an action of Christ and of the Church in which priests fulfill their principal role.” [14] The faithful sacrifice or offer up something licit (good) for the sake of Christ. We pray to God, just as the prophets prayed and stayed in communication with God. If a prophet did not stay in communication with God, they would not know what to say to the people. We give to the poor and perform good works, just as a good King who serves the people of His kingdom and also gives to the needy of the kingdom.
[1] CCC 436
[2] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 446
[3] CCC 65
[4] Order of the Mass I
[5] Hebrews 9:12
[6] Hebrews 7:25
[7] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 438
[8] www.loyolapress.com/jesus-prophet-priest-and-king.htm
[9] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 438
[10] Luke 1:32-33
[11] John 19:19
[12] From a treatise on John by Saint Augustin, bishop (Office of Readings, 3rd Sunday of Lent)
[13] John 20:21
[14] Code of Cannon Law; 904