1 Cor 14, 1-6 Whoever prophesies builds up the church

1Corinthians 14

(1 Cor 14, 1-6) Whoever prophesies builds up the church

[1] Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy. [2] For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to human beings but to God, for no one listens; he utters mysteries in spirit. [3] On the other hand, one who prophesies does speak to human beings, for their building up, encouragement, and solace. [4] Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever prophesies builds up the church. [5] Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up. [6] Now, brothers, if I should come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I do you if I do not speak to you by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or instruction?

(CCC 2595) The prophets summoned the people to conversion of heart and, while zealously seeking the face of God, like Elijah, they interceded for the people. (CCC 201) To Israel, his chosen, God revealed himself as the only One: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" (Dt 6:45). Through the prophets, God calls Israel and all nations to turn to him, the one and only God: "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other…. To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 'Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength'" (Isa 45:22-24; cf. Phil 2:10-11). (CCC 218) In the course of its history, Israel was able to discover that God had only one reason to reveal himself to them, a single motive for choosing them from among all peoples as his special possession: his sheer gratuitous love (Cf. Deut 4:37; 7:8; 10:15). And thanks to the prophets Israel understood that it was again out of love that God never stopped saving them and pardoning their unfaithfulness and sins (Cf. Isa 43:1-7; Hos 2). (CCC 2584) In their "one to one" encounters with God, the prophets draw light and strength for their mission. Their prayer is not flight from this unfaithful world, but rather attentiveness to the Word of God. At times their prayer is an argument or a complaint, but it is always an intercession that awaits and prepares for the intervention of the Savior God, the Lord of history (Cf. Am 7:2, 5; Isa 6:5, 8, 11; Jer 1:6; 15:15-18; 20:7-18).