Good Friday--a different view (Asian)

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901649.htm

This article from catholicnews.com highlights Pope Benedict’s choice to have Archbishop Menamparampi write the mediation for the Stations of the Cross for this Lenten season.  Archbishop Menamparampi is from Asia and has worked for non-violence and emphasizes the need to resolve things peacefully.  The author of the article suggests that the Pope chose this man to include Eastern Christians and to emphasize the way the Gospel can shed light on the beliefs of other faiths.

 

This text looks at what makes Religious Education and Evangelization effective to the Asian culture.  There are three central keys to making this education as relatable as possible.   The first is interculturation which allows the church to be present in the lives of its people.  There must also be a dialogue with other Asian religions—dialogue provides mutual understanding and can allow greater growth.  There must also be service to the poor—it is never solely about ME, but about the greater world community.  Phan recognizes that it brings new challenges to incorporate other cultures into faith, but the results will provide a rich diversity and opportunities.

 

This article does reflect some of the keys of Phan’s article.  The dialogue is certainly there—the Archbishop tied in Eastern influences into this mediation including references to Hindu scriptures and Ghandi.  And because this meditation is being used in such a public forum, it allows non-Asian people to recognize the values of another culture.  And Asian Christians are allowed to feel that their culture is incorporated into their faith.