S3 E26: Told Ya: Why We're All Called to Be Prophets

In this episode, Kristyn Russell tells a childhood story about her blunt 9-year-old brother named Jonny who predicted a "flighty" waitress would spill food—and was proven right. But this seemingly simple anecdote opens the door to an exploration of what it truly means to be a prophet. Spoiler alert: prophets aren't fortune tellers. Drawing on Fr. Richard Rohr's image of prophets as "truth tellers," we dive into Isaiah's third Servant Song, where God's agent listens daily to hear the divine voice and speaks in ways that inspire—and enrage. The Servant faces backlash, violence, and shame, yet perseveres with faith that God will vindicate him. We see this Servant as Jesus, but also as us. Each of us is called to be a prophet—to step out of our comfort zones, bring mercy to a merciless world, offer hope to the hopeless, and embody Jesus in the very spaces where we exist. It's hard, it's uncomfortable, but we can do it together. This Holy Week, the challenge is clear: spend time in prayer, ask God to open your ears to hear and give you a tongue that speaks truth, and discern where God is calling you to be his love in your corner of the world. Then go be that. Go be a prophet.

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Kristyn is a Midland native who attended St. Brigid Catholic School before heading to Jefferson and Dow High School. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology from Villanova University and in Strategic Communication from Michigan State University. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a minor in Communication from Aquinas College. When she’s not at work, she’s usually with her dog, Caspian, kayaking a new river, hiking through the woods, or sitting by a campfire reading a book.