Efficacy of the Eucharist in the light of Igongona: towards Agĩkũyũ Sacramental theology of Inculturation

Abstract

The Eucharist is so central to Christianity but due to the lack of understanding of the meaning of the Eucharist and its efficacy among the Agikuyu Christians, they have not taken the Eucharist seriously. Efficacy in this essay will mean the effectiveness of the Eucharist on a believer. The reasons why believers can experience ―delight‖ in the sacrament according to the researcher is that the believers through the Eucharist poses Christ and all that is his, they have eternal life, security in their position within the kingdom of heaven and forgiveness of sins. This study employs the principle of analogia entis in inculturation as its methodology. This principle is based on the conviction that between God and his creation (i.e. what is good or positive in creation), there is some similarity or correspondence in such a way that one can gain a deeper understanding of the revealed mysteries by examining them in the light of natural knowledge gained from human experience in the world. This study therefore has used Agikuyu igongona to illuminate on the doctrine of the Eucharist specifically its efficacy therefore the efficacy of igongona (which is the existing cultural element that is already understood) has been used shed more light understanding of the Eucharist and its efficacy. The study found that explaining the efficacy Eucharist through Agikuyu Igongona will shed more light to Agikuyu Christians in understanding the meaning of the Eucharist.