Feast of the Twelve Holy Prophets:
Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah,
Nahum, Habakkuk, Jonah, Zephaniah,
Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
They are also known as the Minor Prophets, in contrast to the Major Prophets—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The prophets were individuals through whom God spoke, revealing His will to His people. They were God's messengers on earth, instructing and warning the people of Israel about impending dangers and urging them to avoid falling into sin.
The prophets were fully aware that God was speaking through them. This is why the Bible frequently contains expressions such as, "The Lord said to me," or "Thus says the Lord." To confirm that they had truly been chosen by God, the prophets often performed miracles through His power. Every time we recite the Nicene Creed and say of the Holy Spirit, "Who spoke through the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel," we affirm once again that God also spoke to humanity through the prophets.
The prophets received divine revelations through visions, parables, and symbolic signs. They served as the vital link between God and humanity. Their mission was to strengthen among the people the conviction that God alone was their true leader and to reinforce their faith in the coming of the Messiah and His Kingdom. All the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ. The Twelve Prophets lived and ministered at different times throughout Israel's history.
Hosea
Hosea began proclaiming God's word after Amos, around 750 BC, and continued his ministry until the Assyrians captured Samaria and brought the Kingdom of Israel to an end in 722–721 BC. During this period, the kingdom was politically unstable while Assyria was growing increasingly powerful. Hosea denounced Israel's profound moral decline, the collapse of social justice, and the irresponsibility of its leaders. Through Hosea, God speaks of His unfailing love—a love that calls us to reject all unrighteousness and beware of the deception of idols.
Amos
Amos is the earliest prophet whose writings were preserved as a separate biblical book. A shepherd from the village of Tekoa, near Bethlehem, he ministered during the second quarter of the 8th century BC. His prophecy emphasizes God's greatness, sovereignty, justice, and the importance of His law, especially true worship. He strongly defends the rights of the poor and needy, boldly confronting the wealthy, the powerful, judges, and priests for their injustice.
Micah
Micah was from the village of Moresheth, often identified with present-day Tell al-Judeideh. He lived in the 8th century BC. He warned of Jerusalem's destruction as the consequence of the people's sins and widespread social injustice, calling them to repentance and obedience to God's will.
Joel
The exact period in which Joel lived and wrote is unknown. He proclaims the coming "Day of the Lord" and calls the people to return to God. Joel also foretells that God will one day pour out His Spirit upon all people. This prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of tongues of fire.
Obadiah
Obadiah is the shortest prophetic book in the Bible, likely written after 587 BC. The prophet declares that Edom, along with the other nations hostile to Israel, will be judged and destroyed. Through the descendants of Esau, the prophecy reminds Israel that the final word belongs to God, who will come to judge all nations.
Jonah
The Book of Jonah recounts the story of a prophet who repeatedly tried to avoid obeying God's command, but in vain. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a great fish, and after repenting, God commanded the fish to release him. Jesus Christ Himself refers to this story several times in the Gospels.
Nahum
The name Nahum means "comforter" or "one who brings consolation." His book was written sometime between the Assyrian conquest of Thebes in 663 BC and the destruction of Nineveh by the Babylonians in 612 BC.
Habakkuk
Very little is known about Habakkuk's life. He lived during a time of great crisis, grieved by the suffering of others, and condemned evil and injustice. His book was likely written toward the end of the 7th century BC or the beginning of the 6th century BC.
Zephaniah
Zephaniah preached in the late 7th century BC, before Habakkuk. He addresses questions that troubled many people: Does God truly care about humanity? Is He the One who directs the course of history? His answer is a clear affirmation of God's sovereign rule.
Haggai
The Book of Haggai records the prophet's call for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. He teaches that the people's poverty and poor harvests were the result of neglecting God's house. His brief prophecies were delivered around 520 BC.
Zechariah
Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai. His book consists of two parts: the first contains prophecies dating from 520–518 BC, while the second was written at a later time.
Malachi
The Book of Malachi was written during the first half of the 5th century BC. Seeing the spiritual condition of the nation, Malachi exhorted both the people and the priests to change their ways. He reminded them of God's love and warned that the coming of the Lord and His judgment were near.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
~ Hosea 10:12 ~
Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.
~ Amos 5:10-14 ~
They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.
~ Micah 7:7-9 ~
But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I must bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him, until he takes my side and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall see his vindication.
~ Joel 2:12-13 ~
Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.
~ Obadiah 1:21 ~
Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's.
~ Jonah 4:2 ~
He prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.
~ Nahum 1:7-9 ~
The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him, even in a rushing flood. He will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. Why do you plot against the Lord? He will make an end; no adversary will rise up twice.
~ Habakkuk 1:1-3 ~
The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you "Violence!" and you will not save? Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.
~ Zephaniah 1:7-8 ~
Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. And on the day of the Lord's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who dress themselves in foreign attire.
~ Haggai 2:10 ~
The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
~ Zechariah 7:9-10 ~
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another; do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
~ Malachi 1:6 ~
A son honors his father, and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, "How have we despised your name?"
~ Romans 11:2-5 ~
God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life." But what is the divine reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
~ Holy Gospel of St. Luke 13:31-35 ~
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'