THE AFRICAN UNDERSTANDING OF SACRAMENTS

THE AFRICAN UNDERSTANDING OF SACRAMENTS IN GENERAL
Sacraments are connected with our new life in Christ Jesus.
This life is supposed to grow to maturity. Once we are baptized we are set on a journey of growth.
To appreciate the importance of sacraments in our Christian life, let us look at the African view of life. In this way, we hope that we shall grow in our understanding of the value of sacraments.
Traditionally life is thought of having a beginning, a growing towards old age, when a person dies and joins ancestors. From the time of birth up to death, they are important stages that are marked by celebrations. These stages have being identified as;
I. Birth
II. Give the name
III. Appearance of the first tooth
IV. Weaning
V. Puberty
VI. Marriage
VII. Death
These stages are selected to help as see what is done on these occasions in some African societies:
BIRTH RITES:
When a child there is much happiness in the family and gifts are given to the new baby and the parents. Before the baby and the mother can be allowed to go out, medicines are given to protect the new life from evil spirits, people and the contaminated environment the purpose of rites of birth is that the family has a new member.
INITIATION RITES
Puberty is the second example of a stage of life which is market by celebration and rites.
Initiation rites are normal performed when a person reaches the stage of puberty. In some societies there are also initiation rites when one is introduced into a secret society or a group of elders. Here we will confine ourselves to the “PUBERTY RITES”.
The purpose of all the puberty rite is to help the young adult to face the new period of life he/she is entering into, instructions are given.
To emphasize the importance of talking instruction seriously, material things are used. Sometimes those to be initiated have to undergo suffering as part as adults they will have to face many problem and hardships. It is only through patience and endure in suffering , through determination and not always seeking what is easy and comfortable that they are going to be successful in adult life.
MARRIGE LIFE
The third example of a stage life market by celebrations and rites is “MARRIAGE”.
The couple is instructed by elders w3ho already have a family. There are many rites connected with this important stage of life.
To conclude, lets highlight some important points which will help be helpful on understanding the sacraments in general:
(i) In Africa, life is believed to be a process. It begins at birth and continues to grow up to old age when dies and joins the ancestors.
(ii) In the process of growth there are various important stages and rites that are in order to strengthen and protect life. In the rites, material things are used as signs pointing to the fact that life has indeed been strengthened and protected the use of material things are accompanied by words, which explain the sense in which they are used.
(iii) There is a strong community involvement in the performance of the rites. This is seen in the celebrations that are made at every important stage in life.
(iv) Although the whole community is involved in the celebrations and performance of the rites, there is always one person is elderly, knowledgeable in the details of the rite.
(v) People believed that the performance of these rites, life is indeed strengthened and protected.

UNDERSTANDING THE SACREMENT
1. As we have perceived seen life in an African tradition, let us now look at the sacraments in the life of Christ.
This is also a process which begins with baptism and continues until it is fulfilled in the future after death. This fact is illustrated in Matthew, 7: 13-14 where the Christian’s life is described as following the road that leads to life.
In john 14: 6, Jesus himself is described as the way and in the act Acts of the apostles 9:2; 18:25;19:9,23;22:4; Christianity is described as the way.
NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
A Christian has eternal life already now, but it will be fully realized only in the future after the resurrection of the body. In john, 6:54-55, we read “anyone who does not eat and drink my blood has eternal life and shall raise that person on the last day”.
So the new life in jesus is a real life: it is so real that it compared to ordinary life, (Jn. 1:12-13). And baptism, which is the beginning of this new life in cgrist, is spoken of as a birth (Jn, 3:3-7).
This new life comes from Jesus Christ and he is the one who continue to sustain and strengthen it. It is in the sacraments that Christ continues to do this.
SACRAMENTS ARE CONNECTED WITH THE GROWTH OF LIFE:
The beginning of this new life is marked by a rite (baptism) which points to the fact that life has been given. As the new life continues to grow, Christ supports it unit it reaches maturity.it is strengthened by the Euchrist and other sacraments.
Therefore, we can say that sacraments are signs pointing to the reality of life in Jesus. In fact sacraments points to the presence of Jesus giving or protecting or strengthening that life.
Many of these sacraments are connected with the stages of life. E.g. the Euchrist is food to nourish the new life through its journey, us as human being needs food in order to grow.

PURPOSE OF SACRAMENTS
According to the second Vatican council document on the liturgy, No. 59teaches us that “the purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men and women, to build up of Christ and finally to give worship to God”
So sacraments do not only sanctify individuals, but they also build up the body of Christ, which is the church. This highlights the new life in Jesus Christ is not lived in isolated, but in the community of baptized persons.
This is also the conviction that lies behind the community celebration of the rites in Africa.
COMMUNITY DIMENSION OF SACRAMENTS
These dimensions of the sacraments mean that they will never be a private affair. It is in the believing community that the sacraments as signs make sense. They express the faith of thye community in the presence of Jesus Christ communicating, protecting and strengthening life.
THE ROLE OF A SPECIAL MINISTER
As discussed in the African background to the understanding of the sacraments in genral, we saw the community dimension of the celebration of tradition rites in Africa was very important. It is the community that is built by these rites. But also, we saw that there is always a special person to lead the community in the performance of these rites.
This is the same with the sacraments there is a special minister for each of the sacraments.
Importance of faith
In our reflection of the African situations, we show that people are convinced that by performing these rites, life if given, protected and strengthened. It is this conviction that leads them to perform these rites.
In similar ay, sacraments demand also the conviction that sees in the celebration of Gods action in Jesus Christ, giving us life.
Sacrament’s are not magic actions of formulae that one can do in order to force God to act. They demand our FAITH.
The importance of faith can be seen also in the ministry of Jesus. In many cases Jesus cured people because of the FAITH of those who were seeking healing for themselves, or on behalf of others e.g. Mark 2:1-2;5:25-43;7:24—30. Christ demands our faith in him now