20170614
THE SPIRIT AS THE PRINCIPLE OF INCULTURATION
Readings
at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Green.
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First reading
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2 Corinthians 3:4-11 ©
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Before God, we are confident of this through Christ: not that we
are qualified in ourselves to claim anything as our own work: all our
qualifications come from God. He is the one who has given us the qualifications
to be the administrators of this new covenant, which is not a covenant of
written letters but of the Spirit: the written letters bring death, but the
Spirit gives life. Now if the administering of death, in the written letters
engraved on stones, was accompanied by such a brightness that the Israelites
could not bear looking at the face of Moses, though it was a brightness that
faded, then how much greater will be the brightness that surrounds the
administering of the Spirit! For if there was any splendour in administering
condemnation, there must be very much greater splendour in administering
justification. In fact, compared with this greater splendour, the thing that
used to have such splendour now seems to have none; and if what was so
temporary had any splendour, there must be much more in what is going to last
for ever.
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Responsorial Psalm
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Psalm 98(99):5-9 ©
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You are holy, O Lord our God.
Exalt the Lord our God;
bow down before Zion, his footstool.
He the Lord is holy.
You are holy, O Lord our God.
Among his priests were Aaron and Moses,
among those who invoked his name was Samuel.
They invoked the Lord and he answered.
You are holy, O Lord our God.
To them he spoke in the pillar of cloud.
They did his will; they kept the law,
which he, the Lord, had given.
You are holy, O Lord our God.
O Lord our God, you answered them.
For them you were a God who forgives;
yet you punished all their offences.
You are holy, O Lord our God.
Exalt the Lord our God;
bow down before his holy mountain
for the Lord our God is holy.
You are holy, O Lord our God.
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Gospel Acclamation
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Ps118:27
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Make me grasp the way of your precepts,
and I will muse on your wonders.
Alleluia!
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Or
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Ps24:4,5
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Alleluia, alleluia!
Teach me your paths, my God,
make me walk in your truth.
Alleluia!
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Gospel
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Matthew 5:17-19 ©
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Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to
abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete
them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not
one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved.
Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom
of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great
in the kingdom of heaven.’
THE SPIRIT AS THE PRINCIPLE OF INCULTURATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 2 Cor 3:4-11; Ps 98:5-9; Mt 5:17-19 ]
Christianity
is perceived by most people as a Western religion, especially by people from
the East. This is understandable especially when Christian Faith is
clothed with a Western culture in her practices, laws, customs, liturgy, images
and ceremonies. Yet in truth, Christianity theologically and liturgically
is inherently more Jewish than Western. It must be said in no uncertain
terms that Christian Faith transcends all cultures, even though it is expressed
in a particular culture. Truth can be expressed differently according to
the language of the people and dressed differently in terms of
expression. This is of great importance especially in the work of the New
Evangelization when we are called to permeate all cultures with the Christian
gospel and the Spirit of Christ.
However, we
must be watchful of illegitimate inculturation. There are some
over-enthusiastic believers who seek to inculturate the Christian Faith into
their cultures but instead of merely adopting the language and customs,
unwittingly import some of the values of these cultures that are alien or even
opposed to the gospel. When there is an attempt to impose the faith of
other religions and the values of their cultures which are opposed to the
Spirit of the gospel, such inculturation will harm and dilute the truth of the
Christian Faith rather than help to make the gospel known to all.
Hence, the
principle of a legitimate inculturation must be based on the Spirit of the
Gospel. This is what Jesus meant when He declared, “Do not imagine
that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to
abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth
disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law
until its purpose is achieved.” How could Jesus who broke so
many laws, including the Sabbath Law, claim that He has come to complete the Law,
not abolish them? Does it mean that we have to observe all the Old
Testament Laws and all the New Testament laws as well? Indeed, what
He is saying is that He has come to perfect the Law, which is the Spirit of the
Law.
It must be noted
that there are four kinds of laws. We have the ceremonial,
sacrificial and liturgical laws. Such laws could be altered with time and
according to the custom. Then we have civil and social laws which govern proper
relationships between persons so that justice is served for all and there will
be peace and harmony. Then we have moral laws which are commandments from
God. Such laws are based on nature and some on divine revelation.
Thus they are absolute and are binding at all times. There is no
compromise when it comes to moral laws, even though many Christians have
adulterated the moral laws to suit their licentious lifestyle. Finally,
we have doctrinal laws which are revealed also by God. Such doctrines,
especially dogma, cannot be changed because they are based on divine
revelation. Doctrinal laws however require the gift of faith to recognize
them as coming from God. Hence, we cannot impose our doctrines on those
who have not arrived at faith.
So fidelity
to the Law is to be faithful to the Spirit of these laws, especially when all laws
are ultimately meant to help us to worship God and to love our brothers and
sisters. The Spirit of the Law is the Spirit of love. So
why is it necessary to ask ourselves whether these laws help us to love God and
our fellowmen? Are these laws life-giving and empowering and do they
truly set us free for authentic love of God and our neighbours?
Jesus is against those laws and customs that delimit charity towards
others. He is also against those laws that are observed blindly and
meticulously without observing the true spirit of the laws.
But it
is not enough to insist on observing the Spirit of the Law; we need the Law of
the Spirit. Christian perfection of the Law does not rest
here. The truth remains that we cannot observe the Letter of the Law, and
even if we do, we cannot always observe the Spirit of the Law. Only the
Holy Spirit can empower us to do what Jesus did. The Holy Spirit is the
inner principle of the Law. Indeed, St Paul made it clear that all
his achievements were not because of himself and his efforts but purely the
work of the grace of the Holy Spirit. He did not boast about himself but
what the Holy Spirit did in and through him. “Before God, we are
confident of this through Christ: not that we are qualified in ourselves to
claim anything as our own work: all our qualifications come from God. He
is the one who has given us the qualifications to be the administrators of this
new covenant, which is not a covenant of written letters but of the Spirit.”
Indeed, the
written letters, that is, the laws written on tablets cannot transform us.
They remain extraneous to us. Worst of all, the laws only show us where
we have failed and thereby condemn us. That is why “the written letters
bring death, but the Spirit gives life.” How does the Spirit give life?
Firstly, the
Spirit, which is the love of God, forgives us our sins and heals us of our
brokenness.Through the Holy Spirit, we feel loved and forgiven. St Paul
said, “For if there was any splendour in administering condemnation, there must
be very much greater splendour in administering justification.” Christians
observe the laws not to save themselves. We are saved and justified
in Christ. Rather, these laws are seen as moral codes to guide Christians
to live the life of the gospel and the life of the Spirit. Observance of
the laws cannot justify us but living the life of the Spirit and the observance
of the laws indicate that we are truly justified in Christ because He has
changed us.
Secondly, the
Holy Spirit as the inner principle enables to see everything through the
perspective of Christ. He gives us a deeper insight into recognizing the
spirit of the laws. The point of departure therefore is never the laws
but of Christ. Through our faith in Christ, we see ourselves as the image
and likeness of God, the adopted children of our heavenly Father. We
observe the laws not out of fear but out of reverence, conviction and love for
our heavenly Father. So it is not mere external performance of the laws
but an inner transformation of the heart.
Finally, the
Holy Spirit gives us the capacity to do what Jesus did. He is the engine that
propels us to complete His work. Hence, St Paul remarked, “Now if
the administering of death, in the written letters engraved on stones, was
accompanied by such a brightness that the Israelites could not bear looking at
the face of Moses, though it was a brightness that faded, then how much greater
will be the brightness that surrounds the administering of the Spirit!” Only faith
in Christ brings about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit which gives the inner
strength to do the right thing.
In this way,
we enter the kingdom of God, that is, to share in the life and love of God. This is why Jesus
said, “Therefore the man who infringes even one of the least of these
commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in
the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be
considered great in the kingdom of heaven.” When we do the will of God,
we share in God’s life. Observance of the laws in love and for love
fulfills the law of Christ. As St Paul wrote, “Owe no one anything,
except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the
law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not
murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other commandment,
are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love
does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Rom 13:8-10)
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
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