Last Sunday in Phnom Penh, I attended the Ordination for Diaconate of a Korean Missionary named Daniel. Although it's a fact that this year Koreans outnumber the Japanese in terms of tourism here in Cambodia, I never expected to see so many Korean priests and nuns (Carmelites) joining in this beautiful solemn ceremony.
The rite of ordination was done all in Khmer. No one spoke a word in Korean. The Korean superiors (it's their first time in Cambodia) spoke their lines in Khmer. Daniel answered and delivered his lines in Khmer including his thank you speech. Even the Korean priest who had to make a speech did it in Khmer. And we understood all they said. Now that's what you call inculturation!
The ceremonial advice of the bishop to a new deacon never ceases to enthrall me:
"Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach"
Whatever our state of life is, these words will always apply.