From Symbol to Sacrament: A Participatory Hermeneutic for Liturgical Inculturation in East Nusa Tenggara

This study addresses the critical challenge in liturgical inculturation within East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, where the integration of local cultural symbols often risks remaining a superficial, "cosmetic" addition rather than fostering a genuine, transformative encounter with God. Moving beyond purely theological or anthropological descriptions, this research proposes and applies a participatory hermeneutic—a philosophical framework synthesizing the thought of Thomas Aquinas, Karol Wojtyła, and Joseph Ratzinger—to analyze liturgical practices in Kupang. Through qualitative analysis of fieldwork in three parishes, the study demonstrates how this framework interprets cultural symbols (such as woven cloth, betel nut, and the jai dance) not as mere decorations, but as potential conduits of grace. The hermeneutic reveals that authentic inculturation occurs when symbols facilitate ontological participation (Aquinas), foster relational communion (Wojtyła), and maintain a definitive orientation toward transcendence (Ratzinger). The findings yield three evaluative criteria for distinguishing between transformative and cosmetic inculturation, offering both a novel methodological approach for contextual liturgical studies and concrete pastoral recommendations for ensuring that local culture truly becomes a living language of worship, transforming symbols into sacraments.