Corpus Christi Blog

Priest, Prophet, King

01-11-2015HomiliesFr. Chad King

Today we celebrate the fact that Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River and God is revealed as the Trinity, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The question has been asked, if Jesus is the Son of God and is without sin, then why was he baptized?  I am sure you have thought about this…. I know I used to.  The Early Church Fathers answered that question by saying that Jesus was not made holy by the baptismal waters but rather Jesus made the waters of baptism holy. Jesus was baptized in order to make every baptism thereafter effective.  When we think about the effects of baptism we most likely think first of the forgiveness of sin and the second thing that comes to mind is becoming a child of God as a member of the Body of Christ.  

For certainly the waters of baptism wash away all original and personal sin in one’s life as well as incorporates us into the Church- through which we come to salvation.  What an amazing gift- we are given when we are grafted onto Christ and become a son or daughter of God.  Think about that- the same words God the Father said in our Gospel, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”, can be said about us as well at our baptism.  This is my beloved Son / daughter   YOU with whom I am well pleased”.  Those are certainly amazing effects of our baptism- and good for us to reflect on in our personal prayer.  However, in today’s homily I’d like us to reflect on another effect of our baptism- paragraph 1268 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church talks about every person by virtue of their baptism is a priest, prophet, and king.  Or perhaps better said, because at baptism we are grafted onto Christ- and Christ is the perfection and fulfillment of those titles, then each of us, and every baptized person, share in that office also.  So let us reflect on what it means to be a priest, prophet, and king.

First of all priest.  A priest prays and intercedes for others.  A priest offers sacrifices for others.  In the Old Testament, it was the priests who offered the animals of sacrifice in the temple for the forgiveness of sins.  However, Exodus 19 tells us that all the Israelites, the whole people of God, were to be his priests.  But then because of sin, in chapter 28, God set apart Aaron and his sons to become the priests for all the people- and so the ministerial priesthood began.  But just because the ministerial priesthood (that’s us with black shirts and white collars) have a special role on behalf of the people, that does not negate the priesthood of all the people- including you and all who are baptized.  Every baptized person is to be a person who should pray and sacrifice for the good of others.  Of course, Jesus is the Great High Priest who offers the final and perfect sacrifice of himself upon the Cross.  So I ask you  to reflect, Are you a person of prayer?  Do you pray regularly?  Do you pray for others- for your own family members by name?  Do you pray together as a family?  How often do you offer sacrifices or fast for the good of others?  Do you offer up your sufferings for others?  The primary place to offer sacrifice is at Mass when we share in Christ’s perfect sacrifice.  Do you come to Mass regularly?  Do you offer Mass for the intention of others?  At every Mass the priest says, “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours, may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father”.  Are you offering an intention, a sacrifice, at that time?  Are you living out your baptismal call?

The second role we are called to is prophet.  A prophet is one who speaks for God.  In the Old Testament we are introduced to many prophets- Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, just to name a few.  It was the office or role of the prophet to speak the words of God- whether it be words of encouragement or words of chastisement and warning.  The prophet was to speak the word of God whether it was popular or not, in and out of season.  I think of Daniel being thrown into the fiery furnace because the people didn’t want to hear his warning.  Or the prophet Jonah not wanting to, but eventually speaking the word of God and calling the people of Ninevah to repentance.  Of course Jesus Christ is the greatest prophet because not only did he speak the word of God perfectly, but He himself is the Word of God, and we know how his life ended.  Some of you might think, “I’m not a public speaker…  don’t get in front of others and preach to them”.  And that might be true, but each of you do preach something by your words and life.  You are called to be a prophet… so share the good news.  What is the message you are preaching with your words and lifestyle?  Of course you have to know the word of God in order to preach it.  How often to you read the Bible?  Do you keep the word of God ever on your tongue?  1 Pet. 3:15 says, “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone for the reason of the hope that is in you”.  How often do you talk about God and your faith to others?  Do others know you are Catholic, or at least Christian- is it known in your home, at work?   Do you study the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other books on theology?  Are you able to defend or share your faith especially today when religion and especially Catholicism is being attacked?  By being a prophet, everyone baptized is called to do so.

The rite of baptism says that the parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.  And at the child’s baptism every parent declares that they will train their children in the faith.  So parents- how well have you or are you actively teaching the faith to your children?  Do your kids know really how to pray?  Do they have a personal relationship with Christ?  Do they know what is happening at Mass?  Vatican II calls all Catholics to a full, active, conscious participation at Mass, but sometimes I might see the parents following the readings or singing, but their kids next to them aren’t.  I think it is evident that most children will not learn or practice the faith just by showing up, they have to be taught.  Are you a prophet who teaches and proclaims the faith to others?

Finally, all the baptized are a king.  When we think of a king, we probably think about someone who rules over or leads others.  In the Old Testament the kings were to lead the people to God.  We can think about Moses who acted as a King and lead the people.  Or we have King David, the great king who was “a man after God’s own heart”, who gathered and united the people under God.  We have other good kings like Solomon, King Hezekiah, and so on.  But Jesus Christ is the King of Kings.  He is the One who perfectly gathers and unites God’s people.

In the Rite of Baptism the priest anoints the person with the oil of Chrism and says: “God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people.  As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life”.   Do you live as Christ has freed you from sin- that is do you rule over your sinful inclinations or do they rule you?  A king leads others to God, gives good counsel and helps bring order and peace to people’s lives.  Do you lead others to God?  Do you give good counsel to others? Besides yourself, are you put in charge of others, maybe in your family or work?  How well do you lead them?  Do you bring order and peace to their lives?  Are you a leader in this parish, like being an active part of a ministry, or do you lead others by your activity and involvement in the Mass or the life of the parish.  A king doesn’t sit idly by watching others, but a good king is active and leads others.  Each of us is called to be a king, does your example lead others to God?

 This is only a glimpse of how Christ is Priest, Prophet, and King.   If the Holy Spirit convicted or inspired you in any way during this homily, then I encourage you to come to the Thursday night Adult Faith Formation beginning in a couple weeks- the upcoming series will be by Fr. Robert Barron going more in depth of how Christ is and how from our baptism we are called to be a Priest, Prophet, and King.  It will help you know Jesus Christ in a deeper way and help you live out your baptismal call and to become like Christ- a Priest, Prophet, and King.

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