Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA

THE NUMBERS

            Data analysts have become very important in our world today. People from different sectors of life need “numbers” and data analysis to make good planning and judgement. For example, from the political perspective, a good politician will need data analysis to know if (s)he has the numbers to win an election else (s)he will embark on a mission of wasting money and resources. Banks will not loan their money out if their decision is not backed by proper data analysis. The story is not totally different in the Church and today’s first reading has some lessons for us.

            It is believed that Catholics worldwide number 1.3 billion. The numbers are good and the source of the figures is credible but like the days of the Acts of the Apostles there is a challenge that comes with this supposed high numbers. Data analysts working for the Catholic Church state that there are a thousand Catholics to one primary agent of evangelization. Meaning that if there is one agent of evangelization in charge of a Catholic Church, he will be in charge of a thousand Catholics.

            Strategically, this is not good because it will affect quality pastoral care. How can one primary agent of evangelization give effective pastoral care to a thousand people? The Church needs to balance the figures. To do this, there is the urgent need to promote vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. It is not just enough to promote vocation but to promote quality vocations. To throw more light to these introductory remarks of mine, let us do a graphic analysis of today’s first reading. I would like to do this biblical analysis in four (4) distinct inter-connected stages.

            Firstly, one ought to get his numbers right. The science of data analysis cannot be credited to our contemporary era. As far back as the first century, the Apostles were scientific with their data collection. After the resurrection of Christ, the early church experienced rapid growth in numbers and the Apostles kept close records of the numbers. For example, after St. Peter’s first official speech, St. Luke tells us that the number of people who were baptized was five thousand. Now with the growth in numbers, there emerged some challenges.

            The second stage has to do with identification of problems that come with growing numbers. The Apostles were able to identify the problem of misunderstanding that came with the distribution of food. The Hellenists complained that their widows weren’t getting their fair share of food. I put this problem not only to the growth in numbers but also lack of proper planning and definition of roles.

            And so, in the third stage, we are told the Apostles met and strategized. There is a saying that if one fails to plan then he may have planned to be a failure. I praise the leadership of the early church. They saw that the Apostles could not combine their task of preaching the Word of God and serving the needs of the poor and widows and so they needed to invent the diaconate order.

            I like the fourth stage. It was not only about bringing people in to become deacons and serving the needs of the poor and the widows. They set up a clear criterion. Luke gives the criteria out in clear details: “Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom…”

            Whatever endeavor one is involved in, (s)he should always note the fourth stage. One may identify and get his numbers right and associate the numbers with accompanying challenges and plan accordingly but if (s)he does not get the right personnel to execute his/her strategy, nothing positive may emerge.

            With all the numbers that the Church is blessed with in that 1.3 billion figure, if we do not get pastors to take care of this flock we will lose them. One Church document I love reading is St. John Paul II’s Pastores dabo vobis (I will give you shepherds). In this document, I cherish Paragraph 41 which states: “each Catholic faithful has the grace and responsibility to look after vocations.” If we get good and hardworking priests and religious, our contemporary Catholic Church can be likened to what was experienced in the early church of which St. Luke proudly narrates to us.

            In the today’s Gospel passage Jesus tells us that there are many rooms in his Father’s house waiting for us. If people are to those rooms in future, then we need to plan well and get good pastors to shepherd God’s flock. I love my ministry of forming priests. A good priest does not only care for God’s flock but is a sign of hope to all people even those outside his church.

            My four-stage plan can also work for you in your institution or organization. When you experience growth in numbers, try and identify its accompanying challenge; then strategize. In all these, the most important is the personnel to execute the strategy. May God help us to build his church and society. Amen. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.