“We all have same value in God’s sight…” – Inter-cultural Wisdom

[Biblical Reflections for the Ratio]
Our Dear Brothers we are presenting the summary of the reflections given by Br. Br. Paulus Tony Ofm Cap., for the Continental Meeting in Thailand last year 2017. He is our International Councilor for Fomation for PACC and a Biblical Scholar. Second and the third part of it will be found in our Formation Office Website: www.sgfcap.org]

Dear brother,

We are here multi-cultures, multi-ethnics multi-talents... Our skins have different colours, our eyes are brown, black or blue... Christianity has its origin in Israel/land of Asia, grew up in Europe and Asia, spread throughout the world, since the beginning of Christianity... Christianity is not only European, is not only Asian, is not only African, is not only American, is not only Australian, is not only Melanesian, is not only Polynesian... Christianity is us, is of human beings, for since the beginning God created us differently and beautifully. He put us all around the world with different cultures, languages, lands, talents, etc.
Jesus is the Lord of all, of the living and not living creatures, in the heavens, on the earth, in the water and beneath the earth. He is the Lord of all beings... we all have the same value in God’s sight, no matter our races, our status of life, our religions, our cultures... Every race and culture is valuable, every person is meaningful, every creature is priceless before God... What we need is to bring in harmony to our cultures, local wisdoms with the Gospel values, to synchronize them beautifully in the light of Jesus’ life...

Reading: Acts 15: 1-31.

St. Paul said, “In Christ, there is no Jews, there is no Gentiles, there is no male, there is female, there is no free men, there is no slave...” In Christ, we all are one, brothers in Christ, brothers in Franciscan-Capuchin charism, brothers in humanity... Who are we to say my culture is better than yours...? Who are we to say our spirituality is better than yours...? Who are we to say my fraternity is better than yours...? Who are we to impose our own culture to the others?

Lord Jesus..., you are the Lord of all beings, we all acknowledge you as the Lord... Help us to grow into a brotherly spirituality... Let us experience more and more our charism as brothers to all... Make us aware to see the others as valuable as we are... May we respect each other while walking together as the children who have the same Father in heaven... You made us and love us with the same love, the same attention... may we live that same love too, so that our relationship with others is really a respectful, meaningful, brotherly and loving one. Amen!
Br. Paulus Tony Ofm Cap, International Councilor for Formation, PACC

To be continued...