Prophets give us hope. They thirst for truth and right, and feel the pain of all discarded people, crushed, ignored, oppressed. They give and get no rest, but stand against the powers-that-be as signposts of integrity, to point the way, and give us light. Prophets give us truth. They come too close to home, and show our wordy faith where love would take us, if we dared to go. We do not want to know, yet still they call us to decide, to banish them, or take their side, and set our sights on Christ alone. Prophets give us life. Alone, yet not apart, their quirks and failings make them very human, sinners, yet forgiven. They are the Spirit's leaven, that makes our aspirations rise, then gives, unknowing, as it dies, a taste of hope, a singing heart.