Rev. Bernard Kwabena Amfo, a Deacon of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in Ghana’s Eastern Region, has preached a Recollection for the teachers of St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Basic School, and Mater Ecclesia School, Kwaekese, in the Afram Plains on the theme “Jesus Christ, the Teacher par Excellence”.
The September 13, 2024 maiden Recollection, organised by the Headmistresses of the two sister schools: Srs. Dora Pearl Tsetse and Doris Josepha Mawuvi respectively, both belonging to the Congregation of Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC) at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Kwaekese.
The Recollection was guided by some soul-searching questions for personal reflection, as well as sharing in the larger group.
Basing his reflection on Mathew 23: 8-10, the deacon underscored that often times, people tend to think of children and young people as those who need adult role models, saying that “if we examine those who influence us most and why, we will realize that they are people who stimulate our thinking and provide us with important life lessons”.
According to him, ancient literature mentions four types of teachers during Jesus’ time who had adult followers, namely: Philosophers, Sages, Interpreters of the Jewish law and Prophets.
“It must be noted that all elements of Jesus’ teaching reflect features from all four of these categories,” he said, whose far-reaching impact qualifies Him as the teacher par excellence, he added.
Making reference to Matthew 23:8, the preacher observed that the evangelist portrays Jesus as Sole teacher worthy of emulation and “a new Moses who brings a new law to God’s people”.
He added that the teaching character of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew can be seen in his progression of educational formation:
“Jesus calls disciples, teaches them, sends them out in the field to practice for some time, and then teaches them again, they find themselves in situations in which they are tested and finally, at the end of the Gospel, Jesus sends them out to continue His teaching ministry”.
Rev. Kwabena charged the teachers to learn from Jesus Christ, the teacher par excellence, who met people where they were, as seen in the calling of his disciples and teaching approach (cf Matthew 9:9-13, Matthew 4:18-22).
The deacon further observed that Jesus was constantly attuned to the life experiences of those around Him.
“Jesus was oriented toward the context in which people lived: He began with the questions and life situations of His audience. He capitalized on the well-known scenes and experiences of His contemporaries”.
To him, such an approach gave Jesus’ teaching freshness and newness, making it different from the teachings of the trained scholars of His time.
He further underlined one of the best illustrations of Jesus’ principle of teaching from the known to the unknown which is the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), which he considered to be one of the greatest sermons in human history.
“Since Jesus spoke to people in their language, in their situation, and considered their problems, it is no wonder that the common people were attracted to Him,” he noted, adding that Jesus was keener to the central issues challenging His audience.
The would-be-priest challenged the teachers to explore means and ways through which they could meet learners where they are, after the example of Jesus, saying that it was not only the content of Jesus’ teaching that attracted a crowd, but even more “His personality, as He accepted the people, loved them and believed in them”.
The preacher further admonished the teachers to seek to provide learners with education for life, rather than going into abstract teachings that may have no positive impacts, after the example of Jesus, the teacher par excellence.
“He taught people how to think and how to live. His education shaped the core values of His audience,” he pointed out, adding that Jesus summed up religion in the powerful and positive statement: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
Rev. Kwabena affirmed the fact that Jesus helped people to see life with God’s eyes and cast a radical vision of reality, reiterating that in the Sermon on Mount, Jesus redefined the idea of happiness, suggesting that the happy person is the one who is considered happy by God, and not by any human standards.
The deacon urged the teachers to foster person-centred education, like Jesus did, by inspiring the learners to grow and become better versions of themselves.
“Jesus was more concerned with the kind of person one should be than with the things one should possess. He believed in people, saw potentials in them, and gave them sound directions they could use to build their lives. He offered people hope that their lives could be different; and this hope, along with the sense of acceptance, gave them courage to think and change,” he explained.
He further noted that the Gospels clearly illustrates the fact that Jesus was concerned with how to think, not just what to think. He often inspired thinking by using parables and by introducing questions that compelled His audience to actively participate
“His interactions with ordinary people inspired and encouraged them to start thinking for themselves and making their own decisions. That meant daring to question common assumptions, examining the thinking behind the rules, and forming an opinion regarding their relative importance,” he underscored.
Quoting Pope Paul VI who once remarked that “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses,” the preacher encouraged the teachers to not only remain at the level of providing content for the learners but strive to inspire them by their own examples.
“As a Catholic Teacher, as a faith-believing teacher teaching in a Catholic School, your task here is NOT only an academic task, but also a Special Vocation,” he emphasized.
“Regardless of our area of expertise, Jesus’ example in teaching stands as an inspiring model in relating to learners, as well as helping them grow and see the world in a different light. Let us follow the example of Jesus Christ: The Teacher par excellence,” the deacon entreated.
Mr. Anku Lawrence, on behalf of the teachers, thanked the deacon for accepting to come and teach them the way to Christ, their role model and prayed that the recollection may always be a reminder for them to hang on to Jesus.
Sr. Pearl in a closing remark affirmed the good work done by the priest-in-the making. According to her, this – the input he had just delivered was a sign that he was going to be “a wonderful priest, a teaching priest” and so urged all to hold him in prayers.
She announced that Rev. Bernard Kwabena, will by God’s grace be ordained a Catholic priest on October 26, 2024 and encouraged them to come out massively to celebrate the gift of his priesthood, since he had once been a part of them during his Pastoral Work as a Seminarian.
Sr. Doris Josepha Mawuvi, SMMC, the emcee for the Recollection was introduced to the teachers of the sister school as the recently assigned Headmistress of Mater Ecclesiae School, Kwaekese.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
