Tuesdays and Thursdays are special in Oklahoma. They are days when someone will probably be executed for us citizens by the State.

On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Jesse Jackson visited OKC to represent Wanda Jean Allen, who was executed at 9 Oíclock that night. During a peaceful demonstration, he was arrested along with others, handcuffed, and spent the night in jail.

We know, from even more recent events, that Jackson is not a perfect person. He supports abortion and he recently cheated on his wife. Jackson is imperfect just like the rest of us.

But, Jackson did pick a fight against social injustice and stood up and was counted. He was practicing his prophetic ministry as a Christian. Now others have the courage to do the same before Tuesday and Thursday executions.

There are other prophets of our time: Fr. Stanley Rother from Okarche, OK and Bishop Oscar Romero represented the poor of Central America who are discriminated against by the rich.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represented the blacks who are still discriminated against by some whites.

A personal favorite of mine is actor Martin Sheen who demonstrates and is arrested for many worthy causes, in between his movies and TV shows.

Most prophets, however, are not as famous and well known.

Today, we heard a reading from the prophet Jeremiah. He is a good example of how each of us is called to be a prophet.

In the verses preceding those just proclaimed to us, Jeremiah responds to Godís calling him to be a prophet by saying, "I know not how to speakóI am too young." We might reply, "Iím too busy," "Iím too old," etc.

Then, God commands Jeremiah to speak for him. But, God does not leave him hanging on a hook, because God then says that he will place words in Jeremiahís mouth. I know God puts words in my mouth, and I pray that he will do so each time that I preach.

In todayís reading, God tells Jeremiah that "I will not leave you crushed" and that "I am with you to deliver you." This is great comfort for all prophets today.
 

Who of us here do you think are prophets? Let me give you two quotes to help you decide who might qualify for the job.

1. We frequently hear the rite of baptism for a child. Here is part of what Father says when he anoints a child with chrism, after lifting the child from the baptismal font.
"As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his bodyÖ."

2. The second quote is from the Second Vatican Council document titled Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People. "The laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical, and kingly office of ChristÖ."

All of us are called to be prophets from the time we are baptized. But very importantly it is you, the laity, who are prophets because you make up 99.9% of the Catholics in our parish and archdiocese.

Now that you know that you have the responsibility of being a prophet, what exactly are you supposed to do? Whatís your job description?

A prophet is a representative of God and is critical of societyís ungodly ways. The prophetís task is to call people back to God by proclaiming the commandments and identifying transgressions. Like John the Baptist, we are to ask people to repent and change their ways.

Many people seem to think that society is going down the tubes. This slide will continue unless you pick some area in which to be a representative of God. You must be actively critical of societyís ungodly ways. Your job is to afflict the comfortable and to comfort the afflicted.

You must challenge people to put their salvation in Godís hands and not in their own. We are not free to do our own thing. Americans are very independent and feel that no one can tell us what to do. However, there are natural and moral laws that all of us must obey.

The list of our societyís social ills is long enough for each of us to find something that matches our God-given talents. Pick an issue and be Godís representative. Call people to repent and change their ways. God did not say that you would not be tested, but he did promise that you would not be overcome.

Prophets must represent life issues all the way from the womb to the tomb. Abortion, suicide, the death penalty, and euthanasia all cheapen human life.

Let me use abortion as an example of how you might do this. You can work in a Birth Choice office and provide an alternative for women contemplating abortion. Or, you can pray in front of an abortion clinic to make people realize what really happens there. In either case, you will be ministering with others.

Another social ill is the degradation of the family. We must better prepare people to get married and assist them once they are married. Over 50% of marriages in OK end in divorce and this leads to mothers and children becoming economically vulnerable and to abuse.

There are other social ills for which you can be a prophet, such as pornography, dishonesty, racism, sexism, destruction of the environment, etc.

Prophets must be in solidarity with the poor. Jesus lived and died in togetherness with his people. As disciples, we choose not so much to be poor but to walk with men and women who are poor. Some of us must walk with the disenfranchised while others work to change the conditions that got them that way.

Each one of us -- youth, adults, and seniors -- must apply the prophetic ministry we received at baptism and change society, or society will change us.

Nobody likes to be told to change. But the word of God constantly calls for radical change in our hearts and our lives. We often "tame" the word, interpreting it in ways that confirm our current way of life. When some prophet or preacher forces us to rethink our position, we often resist the message and reject the messenger.

Will you resist the messages from our pope, archbishop, priests, and deacons, and Jesse Jackson, that we must be against death penalty? Will you reject me as I remind you of your baptismal calling to be a prophet?
Or, will you make a radical change of heart?