Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

FR MICHAEL BOAKYE YEBOAH

CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF KUMASI, GHANA.

THE NEXT CHAPTER  

The Catholic Church is believed to be among the oldest Institutions in the world. It has been able to sustain its existence for 21 centuries under the leadership of 266 popes. Since the departure of our Lord and savior, the Church has moved from one chapter to another. The Church has always been likened to a boat sailing on the high seas. At times it encounters still and peaceful waters which makes sailing smooth and enjoying but at times it encounters rough and turbulent waves that makes sailing hellish. But in all these circumstances the church has survived thanks to the grace of God and the ever-present assistance of the Holy Spirit.

The church has moved through various “chapters”: some good, some bloody, others ugly but though some “chapters” have been challenging the presence of the Holy Spirit with the church has always been its source of hope. The first chapter of the Church’s life can be described as the time of Christ. The second chapter was the Apostolic chapter also known as “Acts of the Apostles.” Subsequent chapters followed but since you are not in my church history class I will leave that for another day.

The period between the time of Christ and the “Acts of the Apostles” was a critical period. This period happened right after the Ascension of the Lord.

The period was a defining period. This introductory story may be easy to tell today but it wasn’t that easy after the departure of Jesus (Ascension). Anyone of you who have lived life under the tutelage of your parents and by yourself will bear with me that the two are not the same. Life under the watchful eyes of one’s parents comes with a kind of assurance and security. But when your parents are no more and you are left on your own, then you will know the difference. The Akan of Ghana has this adage: “You lack a family if you are without parents/guardians.”

Jesus became everything for his disciples because for some of them, their calling was a radical one. They left family, friends and other connections in life to be with Jesus. At one point in time when Peter seemed frustrated he said: “We have left wives, children, parents and lands to follow you, and so what will we get in return?” There were some indications that Jesus became for some of the disciples their whole life’s inheritance.

Now, the question that some of the disciples may have entertained was that, now that he has ascended to heaven – what is next? The backbone of the group was no more. Before they could take the group to the next chapter, certain issues needed attention, clarification and definition. The first most of them was leadership. Almost everybody at Caesarea Philippi witnessed Jesus’ confirmation of Peter as his successor. The position of leadership was therefore not open to election but the question was: how competent was Peter to lead such a group in a politically and religiously tense atmosphere? History teaches us that Peter had received no formal education and the only thing he knew best was fishing. Among the things that may have given Peter a lot of headache was the management of the group, deciding how one can be admitted into the Christian group, and determining authentic doctrine (to shield the church from heresies).

The fisherman really had a job at hand but I would like to think that he had the promise of Jesus on the coming of the Advocate in mind.

As Peter and the others had these issues pertaining to leadership in mind, there was another issue for the new chapter of the group and that was “Will the group stay united with one mission?” Christ himself may have had his own fears on this, that is why he may had prayed to the Father that “All may be one.” When a group loses its founding father/leader, it is very difficult to keep the group together.

During the ministry of Jesus what attracted people to follow Jesus was the miracles he worked and his sound teaching. Even his enemies who witnessed his miracles and teachings, couldn’t but praise him and confirm him as the Messiah. Now that he was no more with them, the disciples may have pondered on the issues of miracles and sound teaching as a means to maintain the group and attract new ones.

Another issue that called for pondering was whether the group could be deemed a church or a sect within Judaism? This new chapter after the Ascension of the Lord had so many questions that begged for answers.

To find answers, the group made a decision that was point on and we need to learn and emulate it when we are also moving institutions, groups, businesses and other things in life from one chapter/stage to another. In the first reading Luke gives us a graphic report on that decision. The inspired writer wrote:

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the

mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.

When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying,

Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and

 Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All

 these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women,

and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

My focus is on their decision to lock themselves in a room with one accord to prayer. They did not use anything to unlock the mysteries that confronted them but prayer. They may have learnt that from Jesus who during his ministry whenever he encountered any challenge, moved to the mountains to pray. We are told in today’s gospel passage that before he left, he prayed to the Father. We are told that ‘Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed for the next chapter of the group.’

Every chapter in life comes with its own issues and challenges but if you dedicate all of them in prayer then it shall surely be well with you. The Church is what it is today not because of any reason but solely because its members have been people of prayer. Let us always stay united in one prayerful accord. OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAY FOR US.