AN AFRICAN CHRISTIAN APPROPRIATION OF THE EUCHARIST

Abstract

The Eucharist holds a significant place in the life of the Church in Africa. Beyond symbolizing salvation and reminding believers of God’s provision, it aligns with the traditional African worldview, which emphasizes the necessity and power of blood for salvation. However, despite its importance, many African Christians struggle to fully grasp the relevance of the Eucharist in addressing their daily challenges. While some scholarly works have explored the topic, a gap remains in connecting Eucharistic theology to the practical socio-economic and spiritual issues faced by African Christians. This paper seeks to bridge that gap by exploring way by which Eucharistic theology might be or has been interpreted to address socio-economic and spiritual challenges of everyday African life. Using a literature-based research approach, the paper examines data from existing publications (including journal articles, bible commentaries, books and dissertations/theses) through thematic analysis. The central argument of the paper is that Christ, through the shedding of his blood symbolized in the Eucharistic meal, provides solutions to both physical and spiritual human needs. Consequently, partakers of the Eucharist must approach it with proper understanding and faith, thereby accessing its full benefits. The paper contributes to knowledge by demonstrating how the Eucharist can serve as a transformative practice, offering theological and practical insights for the Church in Africa to engage with the daily realities of its members.