Bachelor of Arts in Theology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.168.4.170:4000/handle/20.500.12342/182

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1997 - 19992

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    The Jerusalem Community: A Lukan Model for Small Christian Communities in the AMECEA Region
    (Tangaza University College, 1999-02-12) Chisanga, Patrick
    Luke is the only one among the evangelists who draws our attention to what immediately followed the Gospel story of Jesus, namely the birth and growth of a community constituted in the Spirit of the risen Christ. This is the Jerusalem community presented at the beginning of his second work, the Acts of the Apostles. He describes the members of this community as having been of "one heart and soul" (Acts 4:32) and summarizes their everyday life as characterized by unwavering faithfulness to "the teaching of the apostles and the communion, the breaking of the bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). This Lukan description of the first Christian community has played a very significant role, especially in the second half of this century, as the Church renews itself in the light of the second Vatican Council ecclesiology. It has been the inspiring model for the decisive option by the Bishops who constitute the Association of the Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA)I to establish Small Christian Communities (SCC) in the region as a pastoral priority in response to the challenges of time. The need to rediscover this original Christian identity mark comes with greater urgency today when so many Catholics are leaving the Church to join small, often very fundamentalistic and sectarian groups. What is given as the main reason for this is the appeal of a close-knit community which provides a greater sense of belonging. In view of this pastoral challenge, this paper re-affirms the fundamental significance of the SCC as a necessary return to the original model of Christian living suggested by Luke in his description of the first Christian community at Jerusalem. The first chapter of this essay takes us back to the roots of this community, viewed as A Community in Formation. Jesus takes the initiative to gather disciples around himself and, as he journeys toward Jerusalem, forms them into a community of authentic witnesses. In the second and central chapter, Luke takes us into the inner life of The Spirit-filled Community through his summary presentation of its everyday activity as consisting in continuous perseverance in "the teaching of the apostles and the communion, the breaking of the bread and the prayers" (Acts 2:42). These elements will constitute the four parts of this chapter, developed in the light of the Lukan summaries, particularly Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35. The final chapter views the option for SCC by the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences of Eastern Africa (AMECEA) as A Return to the Lukan Model of an ideal Christian community characterized by a unique spiritual-material solidarity. It is hoped that this presentation will bring about a greater appreciation of the SCC as a truly African and authentic Christian way of responding to the renewed post-Vatican II and African Synod vision of Church toward the third millennium.
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    Christian Discipleship In The Parables of the Lukan Tradition
    (Tangaza University College, 1997-02) Mwageni, Honoratus C.
    The Parables on discipleship teach us what a disciple should be like and what may be required of him. I have chosen some of the Parables from the Gospel of Luke. I have chosen this Gospel because Luke's purpose of writing the Gospel is to address a Gentile audience who are painfully rethinking their missionary thrust in a hostile environment. Luke shows how the followers of Jesus should be in such environment. Luke portrays Jesus as a model of Christian discipleship. The structure of the Gospel shows that Jesus is on the journey to Jerusalem; this journey has a double meaning: the way to Jerusalem and the Way of discipleship. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his disciples what is required of them who want to be his followers. He uses the parables to convey this message. All the parables on Christian discipleship are placed on the journey section to Jerusalem, (Lk 9:51-19:27). This is where Jesus gives instructions on the meaning of discipleship, the Way of living, its cost and the demands of Christian discipleship and also the life of a disciple in relation to God and neighbor. The true disciple will heed and realize what the call of Jesus may demand of him, after discernment and calculating the cost of being a disciple, resolutely, he will answer that call. We shall see this in the Parable of Tower-building and Making War (Lk 14:28- 33). What is the cost of following Jesus? And what is the cost of choosing not to follow Jesus? The one who has chosen to be a disciple would be expected to express his/her choice in deeds. His service will find expression in action, it cannot be a matter of words only. As he/she strives to serve his master as faithful as he can, he will be aware that he never does more than may be expected of him. All the time he must be vigilant and perseverent and never give way to self-confidence for his world can end any time, and so, he must be open to God's will. But he can be of good heart because he has a Father in heaven who will surely hear his prayers. A true disciple will put all his trust in God and pray persistently without losing hope for there is nowhere he can go except to his master whom he has chosen to follow. So, he has to persist in prayer even if his master seem not to answer his prayers as we shall see in the parables of the Unjust Judge (Lk 18:1-8) and the Friend at Night (Lk 11: 5-8). And the true disciple must bear in mind that what his Lord asks of him, more than anything else is the unlimited practice of fraternal charity. As John puts it: "By this all men shall know that you are my disciple if you have love for one another." (Jn 13:35). The true love of a disciple is not the one expressed in words but in actions. This kind of love is clearly exemplified in the Parable of the Good Samaritan as we are going to see in detail in chapter three. The love of a Christian disciple will always be in two aspects love of God and love of neighbor. These two aspects should always go together without ignoring one or the other for love of God and love of neighbor cannot be separated.