THE BIBLE, LITURGY AND ETHICS: INSIGHTS FROM MALANKARA CATHOLIC RITE OF RECONCILIATION (SUBUKONO)

This article explores the interrelation among the Bible, Liturgy and Ethics by analysing the use of the Bible in a particular liturgical context, namely the rite of reconciliation (subukono) in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.  To achieve this purpose, this article starts with the question of whether a feasible connection is possible between the Bible and ethics irrespective of their complexities as articulated by Tom Deidum as those who easily applaud the use of the Bible for ethical engagement are those who fail to understand these complexities, and finds that a possible connection is possible when the narrative unity of the Bible is highlighted instead of its historicity. The "God reference" as understood by Paul Ricoeur proffers a rationale for narrative unity and "poetics." the Bible reveals a world of meaning and makes the encounter with the referent of that world possible. Liturgy is a proper context to have this encounter the effect of which is that the participants are transformed in their identities as the body of Christ and search for patterns of action in the acts of Jesus. These patterns for actions, the reference to the sinful woman and the tax collector in the rite of reconciliation (subkono) for example, are found in the Bible and the liturgical context, these patterns invite the participants of liturgy to have dynamic engagement with them and transform them into the new life situations by creative appropriation.