The true prophet is not fashioned in the spotlight of platforms, nor can their authenticity be legitimized by the applause of crowds. Prophets are forged in the crucible of suffering, molded in the margins, and called to bear witness to the realities many would rather ignore.
The prophetic call is not a pursuit of prominence, but a cruciform life—marked by the cross, embodying the sacrificial love and justice of Christ. Bishop Mark Chironna’s insight into a “cruciform witness” echoes the essence of the true prophetic journey.
To be cruciform is to be shaped by the cross, to live a life that bears the marks of suffering, not just for personal salvation, but in witness to the pain of the world. True prophets carry this witness with us, navigating between the pain of the people and the heart of God.
We are not spectators to injustice or passive commentators on suffering. We are participants, standing in solidarity with the poor, the oppressed, and the forgotten. Our witness is not merely spoken; it is lived.
In contrast, much of what passes for prophetic ministry today lacks this cruciform witness. We are surrounded by voices who, though captivating and impressive, offer little more than momentary inspiration. They promise prosperity without sacrifice, power without submission, and destiny without devotion.
But the true prophets of God, those whose lives reflect the suffering Savior, compel us to live differently. Their words do not merely inform but they transform, calling the body of Christ to radical love, to justice for the widow, the orphan, the immigrant, and to devotion to the God who sees and hears the cries of the oppressed.