Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? (Lk.15:4)The first ones to visit the infant Jesus were the shepherds; however, to continue the work of his ministry Jesus chose fishermen so that, without losing their techniques, only changing their catch, they were transformed into fishers of men.
These fishermen in the first 300 years after Christ converted half of the population in the world of that time; it was only afterwards that, the need to have shepherds to guide and govern this flock came about. Since then, and almost up to our times, the Church has lived with the belief that, just like before, the sheep would always increase as the sheep multiply inside the sheepfold. The reality however, is that for a long time the sheep have been multiplying outside the flock. In many Christian families, the children do not live by the faith they have received from their parents. In many cases the parents themselves also end up leaving the church after their children have abandoned it.
The Church has come to terms with this reality and proclaimed a New Evangelization in countries that were once Christian. Therefore the Mission is not only going out to distant lands but also caring for those who have lost their faith and helping them see that life has no meaning without it.
We are now once again in a desperate need of fishermen or shepherds who act like fishermen, that is, good shepherds. A Good Shepherd is the one who leaves the 99 to look for the one lost sheep. Or, ironically referring to the actual situation, leave the one to go in search of the 99. In search of the sheep or the lost sheep, I suppose this is what is meant by the New Evangelization which, in my view, has not yet gone beyond discourses of good intentions at the level of synods, conferences, and lectures. So far little can be seen from the point of implementation of plans or concrete achievements.
In the years following the Second Vatican Council, the problem of dissension was not so contentious, and yet the Church at that time came up with solutions to cope with it. Many religious orders engaged in Popular Missions; preachers were dispatched to all parishes and as the result many rejoined the flock. Another initiative was the “Cursilllos” which still exist today was a worldwide initiative, there were others at local level.
Now the desertion of the faith and religious practices have turned into an Exodus that is far more serious and widespread, and it is sad to realize that the Church this time does not yet have a solid strategy…
Fr. Jorge Amaro, IMC