INCLA INSIGHTS ON CONSECRATED LIFE

The right understanding and embracing of the concept of tribes and cultures of the Consecrated Persons have remained the concern of all those who found themselves in various Institutes of Consecrated Life. Right from the days of Jesus Christ, it has been a recurring decimal between the Jewish tribes and other tribes. Jesus was fully identified to a particular tribe, by his dressing and choice of the twelve disciples He choice. E. Michael notes that “the ancient Tribes remain at the heart of Jewish identity, and understanding them is a prerequisite to understanding Israel”. He further stated “to this day, the tribes have remained a potent metaphor for all sides in modern Israel, embodying the struggle to remain true to one’s family, clan, homeland, or faith while also being a loyal citizen of the state” . Jesus never isolated Himself from his people neither did was He closed to other cultures. His entire ministry was known as bridging cultures. In His ministry, Jesus became the barrier breaker He unveiled his ministry by quoting the passage from Isaiah 61:1-2 in Luke 4:18-19, also by sending his disciples to all nations without discrimination Matthew 28:18-19. Among the Apostles it took the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 to decide on how to accept other tribes into the Christian community. Paul narrated the face-off he had with Peter in Gal 2:11-14 regarding Peter trying to distance himself from the Gentiles when he saw the Jewish Christians. Regarding the vocation to Consecrated Life in Africa, there have been lots of denigrating of the tribes and cultures of Africa, and talks on inculturation on how African culture will embrace the culture of Consecrated Life. This article will attempt to give an antithesis to this derogatory thought and present a synthesis on the beauty of African tribes and cultures, their enrichment to Consecrated Life in Africa.

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