Prophetic work is justice work

In today's readings, we hear about a prophet to be raised up, a plea not to have hardened hearts when we hear the voice of the Holy One speaking in our midst, and a new teaching with authority These readings invite us to rethink our understanding of the "prophetic." The "prophetic" has worked through COVID-19 because this horrific virus has exposed the inadequacies of two trusted global systems, the health care system and the economic system, both of which supported the wealthy and either disenfranchised or abandoned the neediest and poorest among us. Will we look for prophets like Moses and Miriam, or will we come to grips with our baptismal anointing and recognize ourselves as being raised up for the work of global justice? [Carol J. Dempsey is a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, New Jersey, and professor of biblical studies at the University of Portland, Oregon.]