Deuteronomy 18:15-20
4th Sunday after Epiphany - Year B
A distinction between prophet and false prophet is whether or not the prophet says only what is known. To go beyond what is known is to begin to please some party or another. To begin to please is to lay oneself open to not being able to end that process and never being able to call another to account. This is prophetic idolatry.
One of the hardest struggles is to not say know more than one knows. The temptation is always to look good in someone's eyes by adding just a little bit until finally life is simply, as Gallagher would have it, about style. Behind this is some form of manipulation of others through information enhancement.
Can you imagine going through a day saying only what you know? No little extras added to a story line, no explaining GOD, no elaborations. In such a way we reveal the world. The book, Being There gives a literary example of not saying more than you know. No matter how simple, there is great authority garnered by not making up what isn't known.
I sometime think this is the other side of entitlement that leads to each of the seven deadly sins. By simply slightly inflating the situations of life we lose touch with the presence of GOD.
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2003/february2003.html
If someone eats food in a way you don't, well, in Rome do as the Romans, eat or don't eat according the weakest link.
If someone prophecies in a way you don't, well, forget them, they are to be dead to you.
What is it that has switched here? If you can figure that out you will find it still at work in your life and the life of the world. What are the limits of uniformity and of diversity?
http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2006/january2006.html
We do so easily become accustomed to idols - that which would captivate us for its own end. Even the good things of our lives, or, more precisely, exactly the good things of our lives are prime candidates for being the strongest of idols. Personal wants, family, nation, doctrine all have moments of being exactly the right response to a particular situation and then they hang around to hang us out to dry in another.
Being so captivated makes it very easy to question any intervention on our behalf: "What have you to do with me. If I followed where you lead I won't recognize myself. In that choice your destruction is to be preferred over mine."
There is probably not a justification I have not used to keep on keeping-on with what I am doing. My knowledge about what I am up to is very puffed-up. Over-blown, even, to the point of fragility and hyper-sensitive to any attempt to change coming from the outside. Such change would explode my world and where would there be anything left on which to start to rebuild?
A first task of a prophet is to have their bubble burst about what is good. Love-of-G*D good doesn't revolve only about our knowledge. We are one satellite, among many, that becomes aware not only of trespasses against us, but ours against others. In this crucible a future is conceived, nurtured, and brought forth. This is also a first task of a congregation and a priest even though it is more difficult here to come to see it.
- - - - - - -
How you doin'?
got anything to do with me?
anything for me?
anything from me?we so question godly idols
ourselves and otherswhen we catch a connection
beyond captivity
it is no surprise
amazementthen we enshrine
our new connection
in routine expectation
ripe for burstingteaching authority
goes beyond anything for me
beyond eternalizing moments
how are you doing?
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses). . . ." (18:15)
"Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses. . . ." (34:10)
In light of the blessings and woes associated with being a prophet (living on the edge of G*D and Self) wherein one might profit or lose everything, is there any doubt about G*D's HR problem. No wonder prophets are notoriously reluctant and extravagant props like burning bushes are needed.
All that to the side, there is a distinction to be made between you being raised up as a prophet and the lack of heed you will receive from a larger people. These two parts of the equation are separable, he said regretfully for he had prophesied well enough to be heeded.
Even before we get to Lent you may want to do a mini-fast around the discernment of your prophetic gifts. Then, heeded or not, proceed to remind folks that their attempts to wriggle out from their responsibility (their facing G*D) by putting that responsibility on a prophet has come to an end. It is time for prophets to prophesy the end of prophecy. Each and all are accountable.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
How straight forward - listen to G*D’s prophet and all will be well for you. If not, of course, it will be all the worse for you. Likewise prophets are to only prophesy what G*D intends. To do otherwise will bring death, obliteration.
This sounds as if it has all the bases covered. Epiphanies will be authorized. How could a prophet system like this go wrong? Well, G*D’s delayed implementation of threats to false prophets seems to have had significant consequences.
It seems as if court prophets, looking out for their own profit, have proliferated over time. There is no shortage of pundits (today’s spelling of prophet). Would that they understood the importance of speaking carefully, lest they be considered heedless and cast away.
Most true prophets end up getting heartburn as they live between the compulsion to speak and a fear to speak beyond what they know. Most false prophets end up prospering under whatever political system they are currently working.
Just know that the next prophet is coming from the people, just like you. And it may well be you. Enjoy the ride.
http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2012/01/deuteronomy-1815-20.html