Inculturating the Feast of Pentecost in Africa

Looking for a good opening line for a talk or homily on Pentecost Sunday (May 31st)? Try this one: "Today when we pray the Our Father together you are invited to pray in different languages especially in your first or heart language which might he Swahili, Kikuyu, Luo, Luganda or Chewa. This recalls the first Pentecost Sunday just described in the Acts of the Apostles and shows the universality of our Local Church. Our African Church, our diocese, our parish, our apostolic group is a rainbow of different languages, cultures and religious practices." Pentecost celebrates the miracle of unity in diversity. The Holy Spirit has always been at work in people and their cultures. The church both brings a gift and receives a gift in the process of inculturation.

This same Pentecost experience can be expressed in using different African languages for the Prayers of the Faithful during the Eucharistic Celebration, a "Sunday Service without a Priest," or the weekly Bible Service of a Small Christian Community (SCC). Research on SCCs in Kenya has shown that the Prayers of the Faithful are much more expressive and "real" (concrete or down to earth) when expressed in local African languages. In fact, intercessory prayers are a very good indicator of the spirituality and felt needs of the local people.

1998 is the "Year of the Holy Spirit" in the three-year preparation for the Millennium, the Great Jubilee Year of 2000. This special year is being celebrated locally throughout Africa. For example, the theme of the Catholic Church in Tanzania in 1998 is "The Church: Temple of the Holy Spirit." Part of the prayer of Pope John Paul II for this "1998 -Year of the Holy Spirit" says: "Spirit of communion, soul and strength of the church, grant that the wealth of charisms and ministries may contribute to the unity of the Body of Christ; grant that laity, consecrated persons and ordained ministers may work together in harmony to build the one Kingdom of God."

How is the Holy Spirit portrayed in the Bible? The images of the dove and fire are used just a few times in the Gospels and Acts, but mainly the Holy Spirit is presented through the charisms and gifts of service. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4,7). Jesus says: "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled" (Luke 12: 49). Combining these metaphors we can say that Christ sends us to cast fire among people by witnessing and promoting the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit works through the gifts of service such as the ministries and roles in the SCCs and families.

Pentecost Sunday marks the end of the formal catechesis of the new Christians who were baptized on Holy Saturday in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Let us join them to proclaim "God's deeds of power" (Acts 2:11) and actively live the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This can be solemnized in the offertory procession when seven people carry a symbol of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Each member of the congregation can chose one particular gift to live out in our families, workplaces, apostolic groups and SCCs.

Pentecost is a missionary feast. Jesus says to his disciples: "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." (John 20:21) The antiphon of the Responsorial Psalm is "Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth." By our baptismal commitment all of us are called to be missionaries. In East Africa there is a Swahili saying that is translated, To be called is to be sent. This saying is used in instructing the newly baptized adult Christians on Holy Saturday night and applies to all of us. We are called first to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Then we are sent as apostles.

One way to symbolize our missionary solidarity with people around the world on Pentecost is to substitute the word "food" for "bread" in saying the Our Father. Many African languages do not have a word for bread, which is still unknown to many African people whose staple food is yams or corn meal or unsweetened bananas. Even in many countries in Asia the staple food is rice. Thus in many languages the translation of Matthew 6:11 is "Give us this day our daily food." This global solidarity also reminds us of the millions of people around the world who only have one good meal a day.

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