杏MAP导航: Celebrating Synod means walking together on the same road
By Christopher Wells
杏MAP导航 Francis formally opened the Synod of Bishops on Sunday with a solemn Mass in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica.
Faithful from around the world 鈥� including laymen and -women, priests, seminarians, women and men religious, cardinals and bishops 鈥� took part in the liturgy, which marked the beginning of a two-year synodal process.
In his , 杏MAP导航 Francis took the day鈥檚 Gospel reading, recounting Jesus鈥� encounter with a rich young man, as the starting point for a reflection on synodality: 鈥淐elebrating a Synod,鈥� he said, 鈥渕eans walking on the same road, together.鈥�
Following the example of Jesus, he emphasized three verbs that characterize the Synod: encounter, listen, and discern.
Encounter
In the Gospels, we often see Jesus on a journey, open to an encounter with those He meets along the way, present to them, and concerned about their questions. Like Jesus, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渨e too are called to become experts in the art of encounter.鈥�
This involves an openness to God, taking time for prayer and adoration, and listening to what the Holy Spirit tells us.
It also requires openness to others, as well as courage and 鈥渁 willingness to allow ourselves to be challenged by the presence and the stories of others.
Listen
杏MAP导航 Francis that a true encounter only comes through listening to others, noting that Jesus listens not just with the ears, but with the heart. When we follow Jesus in listening with the heart, 鈥減eople feel they are being heard, not judged; they feel free to recount their own experiences and their spiritual journey.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航 invited us to ask ourselves if we are good at listening, if we allow others to express themselves. He said that the Holy Spirit is asking us to listen to the 鈥渜uestions, concerns, and hopes of every Church,鈥� and to the challenges and changes presented by the world around us.鈥�
鈥淟et us not soundproof our hearts; let us not remain barricaded in our certainties,鈥� he pleaded. Instead, 鈥淟et us listen to one another.鈥�
Discern
杏MAP导航 Francis insisted that 鈥渆ncounter and listening are not ends in themselves,鈥� but must lead to discernment. 鈥淲henever we enter into dialogue,鈥� he explained, 鈥渨e allow ourselves to be challenged, to advance on the journey.鈥�
As with the rich young man, Jesus helps us to discern, 鈥渢o look within鈥� and to discover what God reveals to us, 鈥渢o discern in that light鈥� what our hearts 鈥渢ruly treasure.鈥�
This 鈥渋s a valuable lesson to us,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, adding that 鈥渢he Synod is a journey of spiritual discernment that takes place in adoration, in prayer, and in dialogue with the Word of God.鈥�
Where God is leading us
In these days of the Synod, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淛esus calls us, as he did the rich man in the Gospel, to empty ourselves, to free ourselves from all that is worldly, including our inward-looking and outworn pastoral models; and to ask ourselves what it is that God wants to say to us in this time 鈥� and the direction in which He wants to lead us.鈥�
鈥淟et us have a good journey together,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said in conclusion. He expressed the hope that we might be 鈥減ilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Spirit.鈥� And he urged us not to miss out 鈥渙n the grace-filled opportunities born of encounter, listening, and discernment.鈥�
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