Ihunanya nke Rome Pontiff aghaghi ibu n’ime anyi ihe obi uto, n’ihi na onye anyi huru Kraist n’ime ya. Ọ bụrụ na anyị na Onyenwe anyị na-emekọ ihe n’ekpere, anyị ga-aga n’ihu n’ile anya nke ga-eme ka anyị mata ọrụ nke Mmụọ Nsọ, ọbụnadị n’ihu ihe omume anyị na-aghọtaghị ma ọ bụ nke na-eweta ume ume ma ọ bụ iru uju.
- Ọgụ. José Escriva, N'ịhụnanya theka, n. Ogbe 13
AS Ndi Katoliki, oru ayi abughi icho izu oke na ndi bisho anyi, kama gee ntị olu nke Ezigbo Onye-ọzụzụ aturu na nke ha.
Na-eruberenụ ndị isi unu isi ma na-erubere ha isi, n'ihi na ha na-eche unu nche ma ha ga-aza ajụjụ, ka ha wee were ọ joyụ na-arụzu ọ bụghị iru uju, n'ihi na nke ahụ agaghị aba ụnụ uru. (Ndị Hibru 13:17)
Pope Francis is the “chief” shepherd of Christ’s Church and “…he carries out among men that task of sanctifying and governing which Jesus entrusted to Peter.” [1]St. Escriva, Akwụkwọ ahụ, n. Ogbe 134 History teaches us, beginning with Peter, that the successors to that first Apostle carry out that office with varying degrees of competence and holiness. The point is this: one can quickly get stuck on their faults and failings and soon fail to hear Jesus speaking through them, despite.
For indeed he was crucified out of weakness, but he lives by the power of God. So also we are weak in him, but toward you we shall live with him by the power of God. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
The “conservative” Catholic media has, for the most part, been stuck for some time now on the ambiguous or confusing aspects of Francis’ pontificate. As such, they often miss or completely omit reporting on the often powerful and 
anointed statements of the Pontiff—words that have deeply touched, not only me, but many of the Catholic leaders and theologians I converse with behind the scenes. The question we must each ask ourselves is this: Have I lost the capacity to hear the Voice of Christ speaking through my shepherds—despite their shortcomings?
Though this is not the main point of today’s article, it almost has to be said. Because when it comes to quoting Pope Francis these days, I sometimes have to preempt his words with such caveats as above (trust me… articles like these are almost always followed with emails telling me how blind and deceived I am). As the head of one well-known apostolate said to me recently regarding those who have taken a position to criticize Pope Francis publically:
Their tone leads a person to feel as though you are betraying Christ’s Church if you don’t disagree or even somewhat “bash” Pope Francis. At the very least, it is implied, we must receive everything he says with a grain of salt and question it. Yet I have been very nourished by his gentle spirit and call to compassion. I know the ambiguities are concerning, but it just makes me pray for him all the more. I’m afraid schism will come from all this ultra-conservatism in the Church. I don’t like playing into the hands of Satan, the Divider.
CALLING ALL PROPHETS
My spiritual director once said, “The prophets have short careers.” Yes, even in the New Testament Church, they are often “stoned” or “beheaded,” that is, silenced or sidelined (see Na-emechi ndị amụma anya).
Pope Francis has not only cast the stones aside but has deliberately called the Church to step up her prophetic voice.
Prophets, true prophets: those who risk their neck for proclaiming “the truth” even if uncomfortable, even if “it is not pleasant to listen to”… “A true prophet is one who is able to cry for the people and to say strong things when needed.” —POPE FRANCIS, Homily, Santa Marta; Eprel 17th, 2018; Onye ndu Vatican
Here, we have a beautiful description of a “true prophet.” For many today have the idea that a prophet is someone who always begins their sentences saying, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” and then pronounces a strong warning and rebuke to their 
listeners. That was often the case in the Old Testament and is sometimes necessary in the New. But with the Death and Resurrection of Jesus and the revelation of God’s profound love and salvific plan, a new era of mercy was opened to humanity:
N’ime ọgbụgba ndụ ochie, ezigara m ndị amụma na-ebuso ndị m ujo. Taa ana m ezitere gị ebere m zitere ndị bi n'uwa niile. Achọghị m ịta ahụhụ ihe a kpọrọ mmadụ ntaramahụhụ, mana m chọrọ ịgwọ ya, na-agbanye ya n'obi Obi m. M na-eji ntaramahụhụ mgbe ha onwe ha na-amanye m ime nke a; Aka m ajụwo ijide mma agha nke ikpe ziri ezi. Tupu ụbọchị ikpe ziri ezi ana m ezitere thebọchị Ebere.—Jọsọs nke dị na St. Faustina, Chineke Ebere na Mkpụrụ Obi m, Diary, n. Ogbe 1588
So what is prophecy today?
Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)
And what should our witness to Jesus look like?
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another… Your every act should be done with love. (John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 16:14)
Thus, Pope Francis goes on to say:
Onye amụma ahụ abụghị ọkachamara "onye nkọcha" professional Mba, ha bụ ndị nwere olile anya. Onye amụma na-akọcha mgbe ọ dị mkpa ma mepee ụzọ nke na-ele ọhụụ nke olileanya anya. Mana, ezigbo onye amụma, ọ bụrụ na ha na-arụ ọrụ ha nke ọma, na-etinye olu ha n'ihe ize ndụ… A na-akpagbu ndị amụma mgbe niile maka ikwu eziokwu.
Persecution, he adds, for having said it in a “direct” and not “lukewarm” way. As such,
When the prophet preaches the truth and touches the heart, either the heart opens or it becomes stone, unleashing anger and persecution…
He concludes his homily saying:
The Church needs prophets. These kinds of prophets. “I will say more: She needs us niile ibu amụma. ”
Ee, onye ọ bụla n’ime anyị is called to share in Christ’s prophetic office.
Ndi kwesiri ntukwasi obi, ndi sitere na Baptism abanye ha na Kraist ma tinye aka na ndi nke Chineke, ka emekorita uzo ha n'uzo Kraist dika onye nchu aja, nke amuma, na nke eze, ma nwee kwa nke ha ka ha buru na ozi nke dum ndị Kraịst nọ na Churchka na ụwa. -Katkizim nke Chọọchị Katọlik, n. Ogbe 897
The “key” to being a faithful prophet in these times is not one’s capacity to read headlines and post links about the “signs of the times.” Neither is it a matter of publically pronouncing the faults and errors of others with a right mix of indignation 
and doctrinal purity. Rather, it is the ability to lay one’s head upon the breast of Christ and ege to His heartbeats… and then direct them to whom they are intended. Or as Pope Francis put it so eloquently:
The prophet is that who prays, who looks at God and at the people, and feels pain when the people are wrong; the prophet cries—they are able to cry over the people—but they are also able to “play it out well” to tell the truth.
That might get you beheaded. You might be stoned. But…
Ngọzi nādiri unu mb whene ọ bula ha nāta unu uta, nutesob persecu kwa unu, n utterkwu kwa ajọ ihe nile di iche iche megide unu n'uzọ ugha n'ihim. Na-aụrịnụ ọ andụ ma na-enwe ọ ,ụ, n'ihi na ụgwọ ọrụ gị ga-adị ukwuu n'eluigwe. Ha wee kpagbuo ndị amụma ndị bu unu ụzọ. (Mat 5: 11-12)
NTỤTA NKE AKA
Ànyị nwere ike ihụfu ebere Chineke?
Ntughari, na onwu nke ihe omimi
Gọzie gị ma daalụ!
Your prayers and support are so deeply appreciated.
Isoro Mark banye njem The Ugbu a Okwu,
pịa na ọkọlọtọ n'okpuru iji ịdenye aha.
Agaghị ekenye onye ọ bụla email gị.
Ihe odide ala
| ↑1 | St. Escriva, Akwụkwọ ahụ, n. Ogbe 134 |
|---|