CMS Christmas in Cambodia
Buddhist monks in Phnom Penh. Photo CMS
True merit
We are now in 'festival season'. In Cambodia, a festival is called a bon - and generally involves dressing up and eating at a round table, usually in a tent set up on the street.
At this time of the year the streets are full of these decorated tents, some up to 50 metres long. There are expectations to be met, and generally they are expensive.
There are ornate tables and chairs to be hired, lots of food to be cooked, decorations and a big sound system to set up, and offerings to be made to the local monks, who will provide their 'presence' and 'blessings'.
We are often struck by the uniformity of these celebrations.
They are an integral part of long religious ceremonies; the general idea is that the bigger the bon, the more the merit bestowed.
But looking at the ostentation of many of these celebrations, it appears that a lot of bons must be more for display and status than for effective merit-making within Buddhism.
Christmas in Cambodia is commonly called Bon Noel, or Bon Christmas. Many enterprising churches see it as an opportunity for members to invite their friends and neighbours, just as they are invited to join in Buddhist celebrations.
Here is an occasion to share the good news of Jesus' coming into the world in a culturally appropriate way. It was his work that bought about true merit, an atonement and redemption of sin for all those who believe in his name.
From Dave and Leoni Painter