Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL’S BIBLICAL IMAGERY

(Rev Fr. Michael Boakye Yeboah, Vice Rector: St Gregory Seminary, Kumasi-Ghana)

SEARCH

            Theologically, the word search incites hope. The word “search” works effectively with the word redemption. It is when one is searched for and found that (s)he can deem himself/herself on the path of redemption. Jesus made searching for souls his primary mission on earth. His immediate search was directed to the “lost sheep of Israel” – “…He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Later in his ministry, Jesus extended his search for souls to the rest of the world. This extension led to his great mandate to his disciples: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The early Apostles followed the example of Jesus and so Peter became the figure who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel, while Paul became the master and teacher of the Gentile nations. The search for souls will continue until no one is left out of the grace of redemption. Let us try to understand the readings meant for our reflections for the 24^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14; 1 Timothy 1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32).

            “What man among you with a hundred sheep losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it?” The correct answer to Jesus’ question is “No man!” No man in his right mind would be careless enough to leave ninety-nine sheep that are safe in the wilderness to go in search of a single one that was stupid enough to get lost. I mean, it is simply not the practical thing to do. What if, while he is going after only one sheep, ten, twenty, maybe fifty more go missing? So, no practical man would leave ninety-nine sheep in the wilderness and go in search of only one lost sheep. Jesus with this may be considered as the worst planner ever but for Jesus every soul is important and it is worth the risk to save that soul. The love that Jesus displays for each of us, is beyond words.

It is within this context that the song “Amazing Grace” finds a resting place in the heart of many Christians. In the song “Amazing Grace”, John Newton gives a personal account of how the “searching grace” of God searched and rescued his life. In the history of Christianity, we read of Missionaries who risked their lives for centuries, in search of souls for God in the Amazon basin of South America or beyond the Congo River and its surrounding sister African countries. Thousands of European missionaries left the comfort of their homes to the new world in search of souls for Christ and they knew that their search for souls will be at the cost of their lives and yet they went far and wide in search of the “lost sheep of God.” Some of the missionaries died few days on arrival in Asia, South America and Africa from tropical diseases and yet it did not deter others from risking their lives to save souls for Christ. Putting their efforts into lyrics, W.H. Frere wrote: “…alert at thy command to go, and everywhere thy word to sow, they went, O master, far and wide, eager, but yet unsatisfied…thine was the task they took in hand, thine their good news for every land, thine was their power, and thine again, their passion for the souls of men…” Such was the zeal they attached to searching for souls for God.

            Jesus is not merely the Kind One who forgives a sinner when he returns, rather, God “pursues the lost one until He finds it.” This is true of the parable of the lost sheep and that of the lost silver piece. In the third parable the father does not wait at home for the lost son, rather, he hurries to meet him and throws his arms around his neck.

            God is not ready to throw anyone away or forget his people and leave them to the slavery of sin. When one read the stories of saints like that of St Augustine or St Mary Magdalene, one will appreciate why God always go at length to save the worst sinner. The effectiveness of God’s mercy finds a graphic example in the Second Reading. In the Second Reading St. Paul reveals himself as a pure product of divine mercy. Twice he says “I have found mercy”, and this that he might serve “as an example for all those who will believe in Christ in the future.” “Although I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and filled with arrogance, he has made me his servant and judged me faithful.” Thus, he becomes an object through which God’s mercy is demonstrated for the benefit of all subsequent ages of the Church.

            It is so sad what this beautiful mission of searching for souls for Christ has turned into in some Christian quarters. Some Churches have turned into money-making ventures. Some pastors seek their comfort more than the risk they need to take in order to save souls. Some souls are not lost in the wilderness or in faraway places but they are lost within the flock of God. Many are suffering in their parishes and they need their pastors to show concern and just dedicate an hour or two to listen to them but some pastors are busy pursuing things that are not the primary duty of priestly ministry. Some pastors are better off as CEO's of business empires than as pastors of parishes. Growing up in Ghana, our pastor was in charge of 52 churches. We felt his presence though he visited our church occasionally. Whenever he came to our Church, he dedicated his time for the poor people, listening to them and praying with them. His presence served as a great comfort for many people. But today, priests are in all these small churches but the pastors seem far away from the flock because they are preoccupied with other concerns (at times, concerns that are secular in nature). We need not go outside the Church searching for the lost sheep, some are lost within and they are in pain – so please, pastors of souls, search for these children of God and bring them the Father’s love. God will never appreciate the millions a pastor can earn and keep in parish accounts but He will appreciate if the priests spend time in search of a soul in the parish who is in psychological torment. Priests should love saving souls and not making money.

            As we make demands for priests to care for the flock of God, we should also pray for our priests because they are not immune from the pains that others suffer. Many priests are suffering quietly and there is no one to care for them. Many priests are lost in the very ministry (search for souls) that defines the core of their vocation. They are meant to sacrifice and save souls but those to save the soul of the priest is unknown. Many priests are suffering from depressions of one kind or the other, and they have been left on their own to face their own fate. Visit a retired priests’ home and at times you will share tears for these old folks who once dedicated their lives to the care of souls. I once read a book and the author described some priests as “Wounded Healers.” I strongly believe that many priests fit this bill.

            Parishes should therefore organize programs to celebrate birthdays and priestly anniversaries of their pastors or invite them for dinner. These programs can give priests some sense of belonging or a feeling of “being cared for.” It is not ideal for priests to tend the vineyards of others and leave their own unkempt. It does not make sense. Let us make sure that no one is left out in our search and care for souls. God will never cease in his efforts to get all his children to heaven; don’t be left out.