The prophets read the present and anticipate the future

Prophet in the biblical sense is not first one who foresees the future. It is that which analyzes the present, identifies trends, usually diverted, warnings and even threats made. Announces God's judgment on the present course of the story and makes promises of deliverance from calamities.From the collection of trends, makes forecasts for the future. Basically says if you continue this kind of behavior and village leaders fatal mishaps happen. These are a result of violations of sacred laws. And that cast dramatic scenarios that have a pedagogical function: Make enter them all in reason and in the observance of what is just and right in the sight of God and nature.Reading some of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus warnings on the status of future times, almost spontaneously we remember our leaders and their irresponsible behavior to the dramas that are preparing for the Earth, the biosphere and the eventual fate of our civilization.For days in some parts of the world has broken the barrier considered the red line that should be respected at all costs not to allow the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million. And unfortunately has come. Reached this level, the climate warmed hardly turn back. Be stabilized and can continue to rise. The Earth will be warmed about two degrees Celsius or more. Many living organisms not able to adapt, as they have as to minimize negative effects and eventually disappear. Desertification will accelerate; crops are lost, thousands of people have to leave their homes because of the unbearable heat and the inability to ensure their food.In such a context read the prophet Isaiah. He lived in the eighth century º a. C., one of the most troubled periods of history. Israel was squeezed between two powers, Egypt and Assyria, who disputed the hegemony. As soon was invaded by one of these powers as the other leaving a trail of devastation and death.In this dramatic context Isaiah writes an entire chapter, the 24th, in a line of ecological devastation. The descriptions are similar to what can happen to us if the world's nations do not organize to stop global warming, especially the sudden, as told by noted scientists, which could happen before the end of this century. If that were to happen, the human species would run great risk of being decimated and they destroyed much of the biosphere.We must take seriously the prophets. They decipher trends in a perspective that goes beyond space and time. That is also why our generation may be included in their threats. Transcribe parts of Chapter 24 as a warning and meditation material."The same applies to the creditor and the debtor. The Earth will be totally devastated. She has been defiled by its inhabitants because transgressed the laws, passed over the precepts, broken the everlasting covenant. For this reason, the curse has devoured the earth, the fault of those who inhabit it ... The Earth is broken, trembling violently, is strongly shaken. The earth staggers like a drunk, stirred like a cabin ... The moon and sun blush will shame ".Jesus, the last and greatest of all prophets warned: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in various places "(Matthew 24, 7). "On Earth, people are prey to anguish at the roaring of the sea and the violence of the waves. The people will faint with fear in anticipation of what is coming to the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken "(Luke 22, 25-27).Do not such scenes occur in the Southeast Asian tsunami, in Fukushima in Japan, in large tornadoes and hurricanes like Katrina and Sandy in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world? Do people not filled with awe at witnessing such devastation and see the ground covered with dead bodies? These disasters do not just happen, they happen because we have broken the sacred covenant with the Earth and its cycles. And analogies are signs that call us to accountability.Interestingly, despite all these scenarios of destruction, the prophetic word always ends with hope. Says the prophet Isaiah: "God will remove the veil of sadness that covers all nations. Wipe away the tears from all faces ... One day they will say this is our God, in whom we expected and he will save us "(25,7.9). And Jesus shoots promising: "When these things begin to happen, cheer up and raise your heads, because liberation" (Luke 21:28).After these prophetic words there is no comment, only regretful and meditative silence.

Translation of Gavito Maria Milano