Would that all the people of God were prophets!
Would that God might bestow the spirit on them all!
Moses was meeting with seventy designated elders of the community, when word came that two men in the camp were prophesying. Some of the elders were upset at this news. Were not these seventy elders the ones called to prophesy? Joshua, Moses’ aide, even asked Moses to stop the two who were preaching without Moses’ approval. Moses responded:
Would that all the people of God were prophets!
Would that God might bestow the spirit on them all!
The September 29 reading from Numbers 11:25-29 describes a dilemma shared by many communities of faith. Groups develop practices about leading prayer, teaching the faith, preaching, and faith sharing. Some Christian communities, including Catholicism, have developed a hierarchical structure, emphasizing the continuity with Jesus’ first disciples through ordained ministers.
There are some periods, like this post Vatican II era, when the Spirit radically refreshes our understanding of the baptismal call of each of the faithful. The ordained are called to lead the faithful in being Christ for our world. Moses’ words can become our prayer for our Church:
Would that all the people of God were prophets!
Would that God might bestow the spirit on them all!
~ Susan Schantz SSJ
