Who are the modern day prophets?

In Christ is our Hope this month, there is an article by Fr. John Welch, located here in Darien, IL. He writes of "The Languages of a Christian," noting the first language is one of thanksgiving. "No matter how difficult life may be . . . it is always appropriate to give thanks to God. For what? For the unmerited love of God that brought us into this world and sustains us throughout life."

The second language is that of prophesy. "Having given thanks to God, we look around our world to see who cannot participate fully in the love God offers us. Who, for whatever reason, cannot take his or her place at the table of life prepared for all by God? Who, for reasons of economics, politics, gender, religion, sexual orientation, cannot participate in the banquet of life? Our prophetic language says, 'This situation should not last; it must come to an end.' The language of the prophets in Scripture has been called 'an articulated grief' because it announces the end of a dominant consciousness, which is at odds with God's will."

In my opinion, Fr. Welch's words about prophecy sound nice, but are too ambiguous to be helpful. Who, for example, for reasons of "sexual orientation" "cannot participate in the banquet of life?" Gays who cannot marry because of Maine's vote against gay marriage? Or those whose gay lifestyle contravenes God's law? (see earlier post) Fr. Welch does not say.

Who, for reasons of gender, cannot participate in the banquet of life? The woman needing an abortion? Or a Chinese women discriminated against for having more than one child? Again, Fr. Welch does not say.

The prophet IS called to announce the end of the "dominant consciousness," which is at odds with God's will. But who represents the dominant consciousness? The oppressive majority? The dominant minority? No answers are given.

Fr. Welch's platitudes aren't at issue. At issue in prophecy is WHO is being denounced and WHAT FOR. In my opinion, one group of the powerful and "dominant" against who the prophets should rail are those who are able to enact legislation contrary to accepted norms through power politics, i.e., through judicial fiat.

I agree with Phillip Rieff who said the primary test of a prophet is whether he (or she) preaches fresh renunciations of instinct. Jesus was one -- the greatest -- of these. (See last post.) A prophet never preaches fresh satisfactions of instinct. He (or she) calls people back to obedience to God's immutable law, his covenant of "shall nots." The prophet's mission is not, as so many today believe, to loosen the compass of God's law, so as to show compassion.

Fr. Welch's article on the surface sounds nice, but what is left unsaid makes it unhelpful and therefore unsatisfactory.