A SWEET LOVE SONG

Today’s readings bring attention to the role of the prophet. But who is the prophet? In the Hebrew language we have three terms. We talk about nabì’, that is, the one who is called and calls. The prophet is someone called by God and speaks his word (calling to conversion). Chozè, on the other hand, indicates the man of visions, therefore capable of reading historical reality, events and happenings. Ro’è, finally, indicates the seer, the one who sees beyond appearance, which he therefore knows how to discern. The prophet is above all the man of the word of God, through which – as we have said – he interprets history. His word (echo of the Word) is a word that judges, which also goes so far as to protest, when necessary, against injustices. For this reason, the prophet is doomed, humanly speaking, to defeat and rejection. To welcome his prophetic ministry, faith is naturally necessary. Franz Rosenzweig in The Star of Redemption notes how God’s voice mysteriously resonates in the prophet, so much so that «the moment he opens his mouth God already speaks. The prophet barely has time to pronounce his “thus saith the Eternal”. .. and behold, God has already taken possession of his lips.” If this immediacy is extraordinary, it is also true that the word of the prophet does not always have an impact on his audience, as the figures of Ezekiel, Paul and Jesus remind us. But God is always with his prophet, urging him not to be discouraged. What Ezekiel himself reports in this regard is significant: «Behold, you are like a love song to them: the voice is beautiful and the musical accompaniment pleasant. They listen to your words, but do not put them into practice. But when this happens (and it does happen) they will know that there is a prophet among them” (33,32-33). Yes, the prophetic word is a wonderful love song that God himself sings to all of us and to each of us. If the sound of the voice arouses beauty and pleasantness, its reception takes time. But the day will come when the blue note of the new song will spread throughout the universe. Then everyone will recognize the prophet that God sent, Jesus of Nazareth. As a pictorial commentary we refer to the Face of Christ by Giovanni Bellini preserved at the Academy in Verona. It is just a fragment that was most likely part of a now lost Transfiguration. The great Venetian Master outlines the features of the one who prophesied the new humanity in his life (cf. John 19.5).

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey