Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA.

A WATCHMAN

Scripture makes mention of many assigned duties for God’s appointed servants. In the Old Testament, some were appointed kings, prophets, or shepherds, while others were assigned with other minor roles. One of the most demanding duties of the Old Testament era was the duty of a watchman. Among all the servants of God, it was the Prophet Ezekiel who was described precisely with the title “a watchman.”

During the Old Testament era, cities were walled for security reasons. And at strategic points of the wall, a tower was fixed for watchmen to guard the city. In most cases, the city’s safety depended on the alertness of those who were stationed at the various watchtowers. But in the case of Ezekiel, when he was appointed a watchman, there was no city to protect so why was Ezekiel appointed a watchman?

He was appointed not to watch over a city but over a people. The Jews had been exiled on a foreign soil and keeping watch over them was of great concern to God. Ezekiel’s work was very serious. What made the task of Ezekiel’s work serious was that God told him that He will demand the blood of any person who he refused to warn. The Lord said to Ezekiel: “If I tell the wicked, ‘O wicked one, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death…” With this warning, the task of Ezekiel as a watchman was well defined.

We are all called to be watchmen and look after our fellow brothers and sisters’ wellbeing. Being on the watch for one another is the design of God when he created our first parents. He made them to serve as helpmates. Self-centredness only came into the picture, when man fell to sin. To be others-centred is to live in the blessedness of God.

If one seeks the welfare of others, (s)he will not allow the offense one commits against him/her to prevent him/her from loving the person more. It may have been in this light, that in today’s gospel passage, Jesus recommended the processes needed to reconcile one to his/her brother/sister who offends him/her. If one thinks well of his/her brother/sister, there is nothing that would keep them apart.

One should remember that the people that Ezekiel was stationed as their watchman, their case was likened to “dry bones” and yet God brought life to those dry bones.

In all situations in life, the greatest gift one can give to his/her brother/sister is unconditional love. With this St. Paul was right to counsel the Roman church with these words: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law…”

In our world today, many duties can be likened to the duty of a watchman. The watchmen of the Old Testament era may have performed their duties based on love for their neighbor but today things are totally different. The duties of many watchmen come under the controlling influence of money.

People will serve if only there is a financial benefit while others fail to serve because they are in the chase for more money. On the latter, I speak more on parenting. Many parents of today have failed in their duties as “watchmen” of their children. For some parents, in house help have been given the “watchmen” duty of parenting.

Some pastors have also failed in their duties as watchmen of God’s flock. Are pastors today interested in keeping watch over the flock of God with love or they will only perform their duty if they are paid very well. If we can save our world from the mess, we find ourselves  in the area of morality, then “watchmen” should learn to perform their duties based on love and not for financial benefits and motivation. I remember some years past; I went for a summer vacation and the pastor told his flock that I will be offering voluntary assistance to the church. At a gathering in the parish someone jokingly told me to my face that I am cheap labor for the pastor. I also jokingly replied that ‘my fee is the souls that God may save through my ministry.’ This world will be a better place if we get more people who perform their duties because of “love for duty” and not for the financial benefits they may get from performing their duties.

We should remember that like Ezekiel if we fail in our duties, God will demand the blood of those who died unrepentant from us. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.