The Prophet

  Although not always listed among the titles for Jesus, Prophet is surely one of them.  Jesus obliquely refers to himself as a prophet (Luke 4:24) when he says, "I tell you the truth - no prophet is accepted in his hometown."  At that time, Jesus had already developed a bit of a reputation for healing people.  Yet the people of Nazareth, who knew him as Joseph the carpenter's son, couldn't believe that such a lowly, humdrum, everyday person could be performing such miracles.  How hard it was to believe that the man who made their tables could be a prophet from God.
  Other people referred to Jesus as a prophet also.  After Jesus raised a widow's son from the dead, the people who saw it praised God, saying, "A great prophet has appeared among us.  God has come to help his people" (Luke 7:16).
  So who is a prophet?  A prophet is one who brings the word of God.  Jesus not only brought the word of God through his teaching in the synagogues, the homes and streets of Israel, he is the Word of God sent by his Father to bring salvation to all.  There is no greater prophet or prophetic message.
  For Reflection: Do I speak the word of God to others?  How am I fulfilling my prophetic role?  See Luke 9:28-36, Acts 7:37; 10:39-43.
  Let us pray.  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.  He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David.  Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.  He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.   In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:68-72, 78-79).

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