Sabtu, 05 Maret 2022

Penti and Pa'u Tuak Curu in Manggarai Tribe

By, Febri Wengke


The term Manggarai is not a foreign thing for us Indonesian people because the term Manggarai names two places that we often hear, including in Jakarta, there is a train station called Satsiun Manggarai and one is in East Nusa Tenggara, precisely on the western part of Flores island, namely the Manggarai tribe which covers three districts. namely East Manggarai, Manggarai, and West Manggarai. Apart from that, this section specifically discusses the Manggarai tribe which is one of the tribes carried by the Manggarai people from the three districts mentioned above. This time the author discusses two traditional events owned by the people of the Manggarai tribe, including "Penti" and "Pa'u Tuak Curu."

Penti

Penti is an annual event held by residents from several villages in Manggarai. Penti is held in November, as an event of gratitude to God who has been passed down from generation to generation for the harvest that has been obtained. Apart from being a ceremony for the harvest, Penti is also held to celebrate togetherness or strengthen peace between villagers. So every Penti celebration event, all village residents gather together to celebrate Penti, both those who live in the village and those who live in other villages or other areas are called to join in the Penti event. The ceremonies that are united in the Penti celebration include; offerings to God and ancestors "teing hang", the ritual of inviting ancestral spirits and cleansing of the "barong wae" spring, the ritual of inviting the spirit of the gardener "barong lodok", the togetherness dance "cogka sae" and traditional games or matches using the whip"caci."

Pa'u Tuak Curu

Pa'u Tuak Curu is one of the habits of the Manggarai people in welcoming guests who visit a village. This method is done as an expression of gratitude to God that the visiting person arrived safely. Also as a tribute to the welcome for their presence. It is said that Pa'u Tuak Curu is usually held for the arrival of the kings in Manggarai. Because of the development of human civilization, the royal system no longer exists. So now the Pa'u Tuak Curu event is held, if there are high-ranking government guests such as the President, Minister, Governor, Regent and religious officials such as Bishops and Pastors or Priests. Aside from being a respect, this custom is also done to give a reflection, that the arrival of the guest is accepted and provides comfort.

These are two events of Manggarai tribe as Penti and Pa,u Tuak Curu that author purpose on this specific part of writing. hopefully useful for those read and if anyone else who know more about these two events, the criticism and suggestion are welcome to discuss.

#tribe #manggarai #penti #pa,u tuak curu #travellover #travelblogger

Selasa, 01 Maret 2022

Nyepi Day in Bali, March 28th 2020

By, Febri Wengke

Nyepi day is one of the days that I have been waiting for, as continued my life journey in Bali. During four years I have been in Bali to continue my way of life as to work and study. On that time too I have four times to celebrate the Nyepi day as the day of silent. That Nyepi is one the ceremony in Hindusm in one year that to reflect our life. I’m sorry I can’t give deeply understanding about Nyepi , but what that I have simple perspective about Nyepi is quietness and changing. In the previous that third time Nyepi that I have passed, despite I haven’t got deeply feeling on Nyepi. Cause of I have just thinking that Nyepi is just to being quite of village or community to leave away from daily activity.
























(Photo: personal dokumentation at Besakih Tample)

For all of family even whoever them as must to stay together at home, not everyone to get out of home, even not to do anything outside of home, even though just to walk down the street. Likewise of mine that I have been wander off in Bali that just to stay simple in the private monthly boarding house. Every moment of Nyepi day I am going to my family in Denpasar to join as to celebrate together. Indeed gather with family at the times like that very valuable, break bread, joking, stories, laughter together, and the others noise. Until we were forgot to deepen the peace of that Nyepi day. What the essence to do at the moment of Nyepi day? That thing loss of our mind. 
Back to what I have experienced at the moment of Nyepi day in this year, I have begun to feel calmness and happiness, also a little renewal. Because on the Nyepi day at this time I changed my perception that I have lonely, calm, silent, and pray that what I have did during the Nyepi day. With that I have begun to think  about Nyepi day that as not only to; empty out of road, to calm the village, stay together with family, and just stay at home. Not! But at the moment of Nyepi day I have tried to  stay calm, pray, empty out of myself. I have tried to deeply feeling in essence of my spirit and body from all of the activity that I have did so solid, even though the problems that I have got so burden. From everything that I have done on that Nyepi day, I have felt and permeated the real of Nyepi day, which has given me freshness, renewal, and happiness. Suksuma, Rahajeng Rahina Nyepi.

Jumat, 25 Februari 2022

Pemberlakuan 25% Kerja Pegawai Nonesensial Berimbas Merosotnya Orderan Ojek Online

Oleh, Febri Wengke

Merambatnya peberlakuan 25% kerja selama PPKM level 3 area DKI Jakarta  berdampak pada merosotnya hasil kerja dari sector pekerja ojek online di area Kota Depok.

Seperti yang dilansir dari media online Liputan6.com perkantoran nonesensial di DKI Jakarta kini wajib memberlakukan sistem kerja dari rumah atau work from home (WFH). Kantor-kantor itu hanya diizinkan melaksanakan work from office (WFO) atau bekerja di kantor sebesar 25 persen. Hal itu tertuang dalam keputusan Gubernur DKI Jakarta nomor 118 Tahun 2022 tentang pemberlakuan pembatasan kegiatan masyarakat atau PPKM level 3 corona virus disease 2019 yang ditekan Gubernur DKI Jakarta  Anies Baswedan pada 7 Februari 2022.

(Foto; Dokumen pribadi saat menumpangi motor pekerja ojek online Grab pak Ismail)

Tidak terkecuali Bapak Ismail pekerja ojek online pada Grab yang beroprasi sekitaran Kota Depok. Bersama Bapak Ismail yang saya wawancarai pada sore Jumaat 25 Februari 2022 sekitar pukul 16.40 sembari mengemudikan motor mengaku selama berlakunya 25% kerja bagi para pegawai nonesensial merasakan menurunya orderan ojek yang beliau terima setiap harinya, bahkan kadang seharipun tidak ada orderan. Karena selama ini orderan yang beliau terima kebanyakan dari kalangan pegawai nonesensial. Pria yang beranak satu itu berasal dari Jakarta, karenakan untuk memenuhi ekonomi beliau bersama keluarga kecilnya memilih tinggal di Kota Depok. “hidup ini kita jalani semampunya kita aja mas, soal rezeki sudah diatur oleh Dia yang diatas, syukuri aja apa yang kita terima dan nikmati sekarang” papar pak ismail seraya terasa untuk menikmati hidup yang secukupnya selama masa pandemic covid 19 dan diberlakunya 25% kerja di DKI Jakarta. Harap Pak Ismail "agar dari Dia yang diatas menagatur sebaiknya kehidupan ini untuk cepat diselesaikanya masalah pandemi virus corona yang terjadi saat ini."

Sabtu, 29 Januari 2022

Meredupnya Literasi Membaca Buku Dalam Kemajuan Teknologi

Oleh; Febri Wengke

Ambangan literasi dalam kehidupan masyarakat yang sampai sejauh ini masih berthan pada standar, tanpa ada perkembangan. Literasi merupakan suatu kreativitas seseorang ataupun sekelompok orang dalam hal membaca, menulis, berkomunikasi, dan berhitung. Pada fase standar literasi yang mana pada perkembanganya saat ini dikarenakan kurangnya kreativitas masyarakat khususnya para akademisi dalam berliterasi. Dalam hal ini khususnya membaca sebagai salah satu peroses mencari ilmu pengetahuan, sebagaimana para cendikia mengatakan “membaca adalah jendela dunia.” Membaca sekarang ini bisa dilakukan melalui berbagai media antara lain media offline seperti buku, majalah, Koran, brosur, dll. Ada juga melalui media online seperti ebook, google search, majalah online, dll.

Berbicara mengenai literasi khususnya dalam hal membaca buku yang menjadi salah satu aspek perkembangan literasi dari jaman dulu sampai sekarang ini, membaca buku tetap pada stagnasi perkembanganya. Oleh karena peminat baca yang semakin berkurang hanya saja segelintir orang dan dengan mewadahi perkumpulan klub kecilan sebagai pencinta buku. Sebagianya lagi khususnya para akademisi terpaksa membaca buku karena disuruh oleh guru atau dosen atas tuntutan materi tambahan dan referensi tugas-tugas tambahan yang diberikan dalam mata kuliah atau pelajaran yang diampuh. Dari masyarakat umum lainya menganggap bahwa membaca buku adalah hanya kewajiban para pelajar atau akademisi dan kewajiban para pejabat-pejabat. Yang mana sebenarnya membaca buku merupakan hak dan kewajiban siapapun yang ingin mendapat wawasan dan ilmu pengetahuan lebih untuk dirinya sebagai bekal dalam menjalani hidup yang kemajuanya sangat pesat ini. Sehingga ilmu pengetahuan tidak melulu didapatkan melalui pendidikan formal dan lebih berkompeten lagi bagi para pelajar atau akademisi yang berpendidikan formal jika secara creative dan kesadaran untuk membaca buku sesuai bidang ilmu yang ingin dipelajari.

Memang tidak bisa dipungkiri pula perkembangan teknologi sekarang ini yang memberikan kemudahan dalam segala aspek kehidupan masyarakat. Perkembangan teknologi dalam hal ini yaitu computer, labtop, handphone, dll sebagai teknologi yang mnyalurkan media online yang dapat diakses dengan cepat dan mudah melalui jaringan internet atau network. Kaitanya dalam hal kurangnya minat baca buku masyarakat dan pelajar karena cepat dan mudahnya mengakses media baca online pada ebook, google search, majalah online, dll. Membaca pada media online yang hanya dapat diakses melalui computer, labtop, handphone, dll. Kemudahan dan keinstanan itu cendrung masyarakat dan akademisi atau pelajar memojokan buku yang berwujud, mungkin tidak membaca sama sekali.

Meredupnya literasi membaca buku terlampau efeknya yang dialami ibu Mela sebagai penjual buku di toko buku Mail area Pondok Cina, Kota Depok. Penjualan buku bu Amel sekarang ini mengalami penurunan dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya “Palingan sekarang kalau ramenya pembelian buku ketika mengawali semester dan tahun ajaran baru,” tanggap Bu Amel saat diwawancarai. Beliau juga menambahkan “apa yang saya ketahui sisitem pendidikan Indonesia kurang penegasanya jangankan pendidikan hukum pun kurang penegasan terhadap pelakunya, pendidikan yang diemban sebagian orang hanya mengikuti alur saja tanpa memiliki kesadaran, murid hanya datang diam duduk dengar pulang dan guru  hanya  menyampaikan materi kemudian dipahami atau tidak intinya sudah dilaksanakan, begitupun dengan murid tanpa memiliki pemahaman mendalam atas materi dari gurunya.” Dalam wawancara Bu Amel juga berharap “pemerintah khususnya mentri pendidikan sebagai tumpuan riset sistem pendidikan yang menyeluruh tidak hanya di kota saja diriset tetapi menyeluruh dan rata sampai pelosok negri, dalam hal literasi harus digalakan untuk terus disosialiasakan sebagai acuan kreativitas dalam membaca, menulis, membaca, berkomunikasi, dan berhitung, tidak hanya bagi para pelajar tetapi juga kepada masyarakat seluruhnya.”

Kamis, 02 Desember 2021

Born to Renewal

By, Febri Wengke
As humans who come and live on this earth exist if not through what is called birth. The reality of human life that develops from time to time is based on or begins with a birth term. In terms of birth is the presence of a new human in this world in the form of a baby born from the womb of a mother. According to the Indonesian Dictionary Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) that birth from the word birth is defined as coming out of the womb and appearing in the world or society. The birth of a baby has an impact starting from the feeling of the baby himself who feels he is in a new environment and atmosphere. Likewise, the feelings of both parents of the baby feel happy with the birth of their baby. It is also from birth that will make a whole what is called a family, forming a general family structure of father, mother, and children who are included with their respective responsibilities in living a good life.
Regarding the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Catholic faith, which is celebrated every December 25, which is commonly called Christmas Day. The birth of Jesus is a testament to the love of God the Father for his people, through the Virgin Mary who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. As quoted in the Gospel of Luke 1:30-33, the angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, O Mary, for you have grace before God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the Most High God. And the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. He will be king over the house of Jacob forever, and the kingdom will have no end.” This is one of the greatest works of God the Father to send Jesus Christ into the world. Mother Mary can also reflect on her belief and obedience to God, so that Mother Mary is trusted by God to realize His work of sending Jesus who is full of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was born as God's mission to be present in the midst of human life which has an impact on true happiness for all his people. Jesus was born to provide a new atmosphere for the lives of his people, where the lives of his people are full of sin, oppression, poverty, illness, disease, paralysis, and other forms of suffering. It will all be renewed with salvation by the birth and presence of Jesus Christ.
Thus the birth of Jesus will also bring people closer to God. Because of the negligence of man himself who plunged his life into the darkness of sin that had occurred from the time of Adam and Eve. Continuing what is told in the gospel of Matthew 3;2, namely the statement of John the Baptist "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand," it is used as a plan brought by Jesus from God to reveal the kingdom of God in the midst of mankind. So God, through Jesus Christ, was sent to direct people to the way of God and show the Kingdom of God. The mission was carried out with repentance and because of Jesus' love for his people, He was willing to be ransomed on the cross to save his people. By interpreting the birth of Jesus not only to boast, that no matter how many times of suffering and sin there will be Jesus who saves and redeems, but the birth of Jesus as a view and meaning to renew oneself to be more alert, restrained, and more self-control to live better.
As has been said before that the birth of Jesus Christ as a meaning for renewal, which will also give a broad meaning of renewal for human life. Interpreting the birth of Jesus in human attitudes that were previously full of negative attitudes such as stealing, gambling, drug addiction, drunkenness, harassment of women, and other negative attitudes. From these negative attitudes that must be abandoned, then give birth to new attitudes that will be renewed with faith and deepening the birth of Jesus will also have an impact on the birth of positive attitudes such as diligently praying to grow faith, reading and contemplating the holy book as a view to realize themselves, actively studying and working to benefit themselves and others, respecting each other, serving, maintaining peace, and other positive attitudes.
Through the meaning of the birth of Jesus, hope for the current condition of human life that is being hit by the corona virus will be restored and renewed with a safe and healthy life. Interpreting the birth of Jesus so that intolerance, terrorism, oppression will be renewed with the presence of peace and security for life together. Poverty and paralysis through the meaning of the birth of Jesus will be renewed with the arrival of fortune and healing. The hope for these reforms can be combined with the meaning of the turn of the year, from 2021 to the new year of 2022. Like a new year that always gives a new atmosphere, even though the cycle of time runs the same and life's situations do not change. Creating a new atmosphere that gives meaning and tries to implement it in life, in the form of new hope, new determination, new plans, new enthusiasm, and so on. May the same spirit grow and develop in spirituality as an important aspect and center of life as a whole human being. So that it can provide a balanced emphasis between body and soul.
Therefore, it can be concluded that birth is not only to present new humans, but will also bring renewal in the life journey of the human being who was born himself and other humans around him. In connection with commemorating the birth of Jesus, it is more interpreted with the birth of a new attitude that is good and right, worthy and appropriate for humans and the birth for the renewal of the state of human life.

Sabtu, 27 November 2021

Pengertian dan Langkah-Langkah Menulis

Oleh, Febri Wengke
Mustahil sejarah terus diceritakan dari abad ke abad, bukan kiranya ada bukti nyata dari apa yang disampaikan dari mulut ke mulut. Tetapi melalui suatu tulisan oleh penulis-penulis terdahulu sejak awal mula dikenalnya menulis melalui media batu, daun, dinding, papan dan lain-lain agar penulis terdahulu tersebut dapat memberikan bukti dari sejarah tersebut melalui karya tulis. Seperti yang dikatakan oleh Utama (2014) tulisan menjadi warisan terbaik yang diberikan manusia kepada manusia lainnya dan tulisan tak akan lekang oleh waktu. Demikian pada tulisan kali ini penulis ingin memaparkan pengertian menulis dan langkah-langkah menulis.
Menulis adalah suatu kegiatan atau tindakan yang mengelola pikiran menjadi symbol dalam bentuk huruf, kata, phrasa, kalimat, paragraph, dan kemudian menjadi satu bentuk tulisan yang terstruktur. Menurut Dalman (2019) menulis dapat berarti menurunkan atau melukiskan lambing-lambang grafis yang menggambarkan suatu bahasa yang dipahami oleh orang lain. Dalam hal menulis ada beberapa bentuk hasil tulisan antara lain karya tulis ilmiah; penelitian, makalah, jurnal, tulisan lainya; jurnalistik, artikel, opini, feature, adapula tulisan sastra atau fiksi antara lain prosa, novel, cerpen, puisi, dan sajak. Dengan demikian menulis merupakan suatu karya seni, sebagaimana mampu mengkreasikan rasa karsa dan pikiran untuk diaktualisasikan dalam bentuk tulisan. Bahwa lebihnya semua hasil tulisan merupakan ilmu pengetahuan yang layak diperoleh.  Pada era sekarang ini orang-orang dapat mengaktualisasikan tulisanya melalui menulis langsung menggunakan pena dan juga bisa melalui mesin ketik, computer, dan labtop. 
Dalam hal menulis pada umumnya terdapat beberapa langkah untuk dapat menghasilkan bentuk tulisan yang menarik dan layak untuk aktualisasikan antara lain yang pertama menentukan judul, selanjutnya menentukan masalah-masalah yang akan dibahas dalam tulisan sebagai isi untuk menstruktur suatu hasil tulisan. Sebagaiamana dibawah ini akan menjelaskan langkah-langkah dalam dalam menulis, data langkah-langkah dalam menulis dibawah ini berdasarkan pengalaman penulis sendiri dan membaca referensi dari penulis legendaris sebelumnya.
Persiapan
Sebagai persiapaan awal dalam menulis sangat dierlukan untuk menentukan judul atau topic penulisan. Sebagai acuan arah pikiran dan alur penulisan bahwa dari apa yang diminati, kemudian apa saja yang berkaitan dengan topic tulisan? Dalam tahap persiapan dari topic yang ditentukan dapat meningkatkan daya imajinasi untuk membentuk tulisan yang akan dibuat sesuai minat dan berdasar pengetahuan yang dimiliki.
Penelitian
Dalam hal penelitian pada suatu proyek menulis, bahwa cara mencari sumber yang berkaitan dengan topic tulisan dan masalah-masalah yang berkaitan dengan topic tulisan. Membaca berbagai sumber merupakan memperkaya isi tulisan yang akan dibuat dan masalah informasi yang berkaitan dengan topic penulisan. Berdiskusi dengan teman dan orang lain yang berkenan dengan topic tulisan yang akan dibuat untuk memperoleh pengetahuan dan pendapat lebih yang sekiranya dapat pula dimuat dalam isi tulisan.
Pengorganisasian
Pada tahap pengorganisasian merupakan proses pemikiran dalam menstrukturkan karya tulisan yang akan dibuat. Pengorganisasian mengenai apa sajakah yang akan dimuat dalam karya tulisan tersebut yang berkaitan dengan judul yang telah ditetapkan. Melalui pengorganisasian dalam menulis untuk mengetahui batasan-batasan dan hal-hal yang diperlukan untuk dimuat dalam tulisan.
Penulisan draft
Bagian penulisan draft merupakan tahap perencanaan susunan karya tulis yang akan dibuat. Secara umum diantaranya megenai pendahuluan, isi, dan penutup yang mencangkupi kesimpulan dan saran suatu karya tulisan. Penulisan draft dapat mensinyalir pemikiran untuk menempatkan bagian-bagian setiap hasil pemikiran dalam tulisan dan memberikan gambaran betuk tulisan yang dibuat.
Revisi
Meminimalisir kesalahan-kesalahan yang terdapat dalam suatu karya tulis yang telah dibuat, hal yang terakhir yang dilakukan dalam tahap penulisan yaitu revisi. Merevisi tulisan merupakan langkah membaca kembali tulisan yang sudah dibuat, meliputi pengecekan ejaan, struktur kalimat, format tulisan, dan lain-lain. Melalui tahapan revisi juga dapat meyakini penulis bahwa tulisan sudah utuh atau matang dan layak untuk dibaca.
Dapat disimpulkan bahwa menulis merupakan salah satu kreativitas manusia yang memberikan saksi dari peradaban demi peradaban kehidupan. Kreativitas menulis dapat diaktualisasikan dalam berbagai macam, tergantung kemampuan setiap orang untuk menghasilkan karya tulis antara ilmiah dan fiksi. Melalui persiapan, penelitian, pengorganisasian, penulisan draft, dan revisi sebagai gambaran umum dalam tahap membuat suatu karya tulis.

Referensi;
Dalman, Haji (2019). Menulis Karya Ilmiah. Depok: Rajawali Pers
Utama, A.N.B (2014) Cara Praktis Menulis Buku. Yogyakarta: Deepublish
https://jaririndu.blogspot.com/2011/10/langkah-langkah-dasar-dalam-menulis.html?m=1 

Senin, 15 November 2021

The Reality of the Marginalized and the Parable of the Lost Sheep

 By: Engel Salmon, SVD

Introduction     

            The parable of the lost sheep in Luke (15:1-10) starts with portraying Jesus’ audience who are tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees proclaiming themselves humble and live according to the Moses’ law stay away from Him. It seems that Jesus does not care about the perception of the Pharisees who admire themselves holier than ordinary people and even look down on Jesus just because of his relationship with sinners. Jesus still continues to tell them the parable. He asks his audience, who does among you leave the 99 sheep in the desert and go to find the lost one? People certainly do not dare to answer this question because in general they are middle-class society and have their economy and mathematical calculations about profit and loss.     

            Jesus continues to tell them that the shepherd leaves the 99 sheep in the dessert and go after the lost one until he finds it. When he finds it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy. Upon his arrival home, he invites all his friends and his neighbors to rejoice with him because he has found his lost and beloved sheep. At the end of his parable Jesus inspires the sinners and the tax collectors that his father in heaven is full of mercy to find the lost “sheep” and there is a great joy in heaven when one sinner repents.

            The point of view that Jesus portrays in this parable is about love and mercy to the marginalized and poor who are lost in the eye of social stratification. The realities of poverty, racism issues, and migrants who are suffered and attempting to find new homes for living has become one of the serious issues in humans’ life today. Regardless migrants and marginalized issues become state sovereignty issue, the humanity principles should be more dominant to give love and care to these people. Therefore, this analytical project is going to explain the meaning of the parable the lost sheep in the cultural context which is about the moral of the story when Jesus told the parable and the connection between the moral of the story with the prophetic dialogue in today’s social justice issue-poor and marginalized.  

Cultural Context

            The parable of the lost sheep provides an understanding of chance of repentance. Almost all interpretation of parables leads to an understanding of God’s love, mercy, care, forgiveness and compassion. “The parable as either emphasizing God’s forgiveness, grace, mercy, love and compassion for the lost, or God’s joy when a sinner is found.”[1] According to allegorical interpretation of Tertullian, the parable is actually addressed to the Pharisees which is the lost sheep to proof God’s willingness to forgive. According to Tertullian, “the parable was directed at Pharisees and is proof of God’s willingness to forgive; the lost sheep refers to the Jews with the intention to shame the Pharisees because they thought repentance was only necessary for the Gentiles.”[2] The most important point expressed in Tertullian’s writing is that the lost sheep is actually addressed to the Jews who are so much pride of being God’s chosen people. In contrary, God is still looking for them and wait for their repentance. 

            The bible scholars often join the parable of lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son as a representation of God’s love and mercy. Amy-Jill Levine in her book short stories by Jesus writes “Common is the claim that the parables, especially the third (lost son), reveal an extravagant, earth shattering image of a God the Father who forgives, as if Jews had no notion of a divinity who seeks relationship and reconciliation.”[3] In her writing, she emphasizes the parables of the lost sheep on the value of relationship and reconciliation between God and human beings. Human beings as God’s creation are never be abandoned although they are still proud of their self in sinfulness and perishes. God, the Father still love the Jews (us also) as his beloved children.

            Amy continues that at Jesus time, the Jews obeyed and served God because of their desire to get reward, but Jesus proclaims salvation by grace. She writes “the Jews slavishly serve God the Father in order to earn reward, while Jesus proclaims the salvation by grace.”[4] This context gives us a clear understanding the reason why the Jews always keep distance from Jesus because of talking with the sinners and tax collector. The Jews obey the law of Moses without an awareness of humanity, love and mercy like God have showed them through his Son, Jesus Christ. Because of this pride as a chosen nation, the do not even know who Jesus is –“Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”[5] By understanding cultural context, we come to understand that Jesus tells the tax collector and the sinners about his loving father. God is merciful and love, he always gives everyone a change of repentance and reconciliation with Him.

            Another interpretation of the parable the lost sheep comes from Bernard Brandon Scoot. He emphasizes the value of the parable from the standpoint of fellowship and transformation. For him, the parable of the lost sheep and prodigal son are always followed by rejoicing and party in which the shepherd and the father find what they are looking for. Each character in the story expresses intrinsically the transformation into a new creation. He writes “In both parables an object is lost and found; this is followed by a request and rejoicing, and then there is an interpretation by the teller (Jesus) that ties the parable to the larger story about Pharisees and table of fellowship…the value of the thing lost undergoes a transformation.”[6] Based on this interpretation, the parable of the lost sheep implies the understanding of Jesus proclamation to the Jews that receiving God’s mercy and graces should be followed by transformation through repentance and respect for fellow human beings.

            Based on these sources, the moral values ​​described in the parable of the lost sheep can be reduced to three important points. First, through the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus proclaims the forgiveness, care, love, and God’s mercy to the Jews and Gentiles. God is waiting for the conversion of the Jews who call themselves righteous before God. Second, God always gives everyone the opportunity to repent. There is no time limit for the Jews (we too) to repent; God always waits and accepts those who return to Him. Third, the parable of the lost sheep implies the value of fellowship and transformation. Fellowship at this point means an attitude of seeing fellow human beings as brothers and sisters and transformation means a commitment to live in the guidance of God who always gives humans love, peace, care, forgiveness, and compassion.

Theological Context of Prophetic Dialogue

            Migrants, poverty, and minority groups are categorized as marginalized groups who are often treated with political injustice, murder, and human rights violations. There are many marginalized groups around us who needs our help and care. However, the question is how do we see these people? Marginalization and poverty are not only about not having the resources to live on or not eating three meals a day to stay healthy, but also about not having the care and powerlessness of the people around them. The tax collector and sinners in the parable of the lost sheep are not physically the people who do not have food or house or children. As Peter Singer said poverty is not about unsatisfied but it is about powerless from the social structure. “But extreme poverty is not only a condition of unsatisfied material needs. It is often accompanied by a degrading state of powerlessness.”[7] From Singer's point of view, marginalization and poverty are often the result of a system of injustice and lack of concern for humanity among us. 

            We all come from the same source of life, namely the almighty power (God) who created everything on earth from whom we receive our life and dignity as human beings. There is no guarantee that some of human groups are better than the other groups, ethnic or certain culture which from there people are usually classified in hierarchy system. Human beings are God’s special creation that have been mandated to be fruitful, subdue the world, and be care to all living creature (Genesis chapter 1). The marginalized, poor people, and migrants are not groups of people without rights and dignity. As Christians we are called to care for those people as our brothers and sisters. This goal can be implemented through three approaches; participatory dialogue and repentance, mindset transformation, and building a community of love and care.         First, we as catholic and Church disciples are called to engage with participatory dialogue with the migrants, poor people, and minority groups. We will never know each other intensively until we live with them for a period of time. To experience and understand the lives of immigrants, the poor, and minority groups, we must engage in their difficult times with dialogue and prosperity actions. Through the intensive dialogue with them, we will understand their struggles, needs, and hope. With this understanding, we will come to know how to help them physically and spiritually. Doing this participatory dialogue does not have to be with large groups, we can do it with neighbors or people around us. In relation with that, we also have to repent from our perception, the way we see others. People who are different from our background are not people who need to be discarded. They are still God's children and they are just like us who need love, care and compassion.        

            Second, mindset transformation. As Jesus transformed himself from God's essence into human form, we as His disciples need to be transformed as well from our selfishness to generosity. Many people in this world are so enthusiastic to have as much money and sources as possible which from that income, they become in power to do whatever they want to people who are economically powerless. We as Christians are not called to be invaders for the helpless, we are called to be servants to those who do not have the strength to live. Our resource is not billions of dollars, our resource is our loving heart and will to live with marginalized people, listen to their struggles, and be humble enough to be their friend.

            Third, building a community of love and care. As brothers and sisters in faith, our lives must represent the life of Christ which is full of love, compassion and care. We should capture the poor, immigrants, and minority group as the other side of the invisible God. This means that serving the marginalized is the same as serving God Himself who has brought them into this world. Even though they are marginalized, they still have rights like us and are still God's children. We must love one another as God has loved us.              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited       

Kissinger, Warren S. The parables of Jesus: A history of Interpretation and

Bibliography. Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, 1979.

Levine, Amy-Jill. The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi: Short Stories by Jesus. New York: Harper One, 2014.  

Scott, Bernard Brandon. Hear Then the Parable: A Commentary on the Parables of Jesus. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989.  

Singer, Peter. The Life You Can Save. New York: Random House, 2009.

Van Eck, Ernest. “In the kingdom everybody has enough – A social-scientific and Realistic Reading of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:4–6),” Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa (2011):1. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=79325538&site=ehost-live. Accessed, October 13,2021.       



[1] Van Eck, Ernest. “In the kingdom everybody has enough – A social-scientific and Realistic Reading of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:4–6),” Department of New Testament Studies, University

of Pretoria, South Africa (2011):1. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=79325538&site=ehost-live.

[2] Kissinger, Warren S. The parables of Jesus: A history of Interpretation and

  Bibliography (Metuchen: The Scarecrow Press, 1979), p. 4-5.

[3] Levine, Amy-Jill. The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi: Short Stories by Jesus (New York: Harper One, 2014), p.28.

[4] Ibid., 28. 

[5] The gospel of John 7:52

[6] Scott, Bernard Brandon. Hear Then the Parable: A Commentary on the Parables of Jesus (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1989), p.407

[7] Singer, Peter. The Life You Can Save (New York: Random House, 2009), p. 6.

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