Fr. Amigleo continues his account of life in Indonesia.

Muslim Lent
A religious phenomenon in Indonesia which I never witnessed before in my life is the Muslin Lebaran. It is a month of feasting which starts from six o’ clock in the morning up to six o’clock in the evening. During this month of Lebaran all activity i.e. school, office works, business, socials are practically at a stand still. The whole city, nay the whole country, observes Lebaran. This, being the case, I started wondering why the Catholic Church in Indonesia had not move moved the Lenten season to coincide with Muslim Lebaran. That, so I thought to myself, would certainly be a very concrete way of expressing solidarity and religious unity.

Ramadan
After a month-long of fasting comes the feast of Idulf Fitri or Ramadan. At this time the whole atmosphere of soberness and dryness during the Lebaran is totally transformed into an atmosphere of joy and celebration. There is rejoicing all over the place. In the Philippines context, it can be compared to our Christmas or New Year celebration.

Back to Indonesia
In October 1976 I was recalled to the Philippines but after ten years of service in the Philippines, I fulfilled my promise to return. This time I was assigned in Irian Jaya, the eastern most part of the country, a very fascinating place where the local people have barely emerged from the Stone Age (Cfr. Article in Misyon, Vol.2 and Vol. 2 no.3). Aside from teaching at a local regional school of Philosophy and Theology (a school for pastoral workers i.e. both candidates to the priesthood and lay pastorate),I am also given the opportunity to serve various Christian communities in the government- sponsored transmigration resettlement where the Muslims from majority. There, although in limited, I am able to realize once more my dream to be present among our Muslim brother and sisters and to start a dialogue of life.

To be a Brother
Ever since I became interested in inter-religious dialogue, I made it clear to my self that I am going it not as a “spiritual conqueror” eager to convert them to Christianity. All want is to be a brother with them. Someone who has to share and learn from them. It has never been in my intention, even up to now, to attract and make them shift from their religious allegiance. For if I do that, I am being dishonest and disrespect in my relationships with them. I am being very dishonest and disrespect in my relationship with them. I am not being truthful to the spirit of dialogue. In the words of Taylor I would be “recklessly destroying their dreams” and their faith.

No Proselytizing
Inter- religious dialogue aims not at proselytizing but at walking together as brothers respectful of each others’ faith and religious allegiance. It is listening attentively to the Spirit, searching for truth and becoming more receptive to God’s saving will. It is journeying together in sincerity, love, openness and brotherhood.

Explicitly Proclaim Jesus Christ
If it happens (as it does occasionally) that they asked me in passing what Christianity is all about, it is then that I try to explicitly  speak about Jesus Christ as the son of  God who become man. Muslims also believe Jesus but not as the Son of God. For them he is just a mere man, one of the prophets the greatest being Mohammad.

Inspired
This effort of dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters is basically inspired by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who went out of His Way to reach out to the non-Jews like a Samaritan woman at the well. I also find tremendous encouragement from the summons of the Second Vatican Council as well as the charism of the congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) to which I belong.

Increase of Faith
My dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters has truly enriched me more than I have, perhaps enriched them, they have taught me, as I mentioned above, of the important place of prayer and its value in my life as a Christian and as a missionary. Born in a predominantly Catholic country, I was also taught by them how to appreciate another religion, how to respect it and to look at it from their viewpoint. But above all, they have also made me more appreciative of the tremendous richness and value of the gift of faith in Jesus Christ. Moreover, I have become more aware of the fact that inter- religious dialogue is an essential task of the missionary Church. It is evangelization.

I started wondering why the Catholic Church in Indonesia had not moved the Lenten Season to coincide with the Muslim Lebaran.