Dorothy Day was described as one who “comforted the afflicted and afflicted the comfortable.” Although that description is not particularly religious — it goes back to her days as a muckraking journalist — it is an apt definition of the activity of a prophet. For example, in Isaiah the beginning chapters are challenging Israel to conversion, to change its ways, to repent. The later chapters, written after the tragedy of the destruction of the nation and exile, shift in tone to offer Israel hope. Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Since we were anointed as prophets at our baptism we too must afflict our society’s ills (racism, poverty, global warming, etc.) while comforting those suffering because of those ills with compassion and charity.
