Qualities of a true prophet

I finally finished Richard Rohr's fantabulous book 'The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for An Age of Outrage.'  

Part of what took me so long is... it is so dense with wisdom. In some places it felt like I was underlining every other sentence or paragraph. I really liked it. But it wasn't a quick read for me.

I hope to share some tidbits in the coming days, and I'm going to start today at the end.

On p. 162, at the end of the book, he shares this list of qualities that indicate a true prophet (in his opinion). He says this list "extends beyond the prophets of the Old Testament to qualities of prophets in any age and any tradition." I like it! 

THE WAY OF THE PROPHET

Prophets embrace religion as a way of creating communities of solidarity with justice and suffering.

They look for where the suffering is and go there, just as Jesus did.

They speak of solidarity with one God, which also implies union with all else.

They are essentially mystical and unitive, not argumentative.

The goal they proclaim is not to prove oneself worthy, innocent, or pure.

The prophet learns to be for and with, and not against.  

They are for those who are suffering or excluded.

They have perfected the art of self-criticism, and they make it their priority.

They include the opposites and thus transcend them.

Salvation, to them, is the unitive consciousness in this world, not the anticipation of later rewards or fear of future punishments.

They are centered not on sin but on growth, change, and life.

They know that the best teachers are reality itself and creation.

They live well with paradox and diversity in their mature stages.

They do not reject the way of the priest -- they have just moved beyond it alone.

They are not based in fear of God or self.

They are always drawn to higher levels of motivation.

Salvation is, first of all, experienced now, as are rewards and punishments.

They start with judgment but end with the divine pity. 

They call forth tears more than anger.

The tears of everything.

And those tears are more tears of gratitude and joy than tears of sadness for what might have been.