杏MAP导航 at opening Mass for Synod: Let us walk with the Holy Spirit
By Christopher Wells
The Solemn Mass for the Opening of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began with a modern version of the traditional Laudes Regiae hymn, invoking God鈥檚 protection and blessing on the Church, on 杏MAP导航 Francis and the Bishops and the flock entrusted to him, and on civil leaders and all women and men.
In his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled a 鈥渄ifficult moment鈥� in Jesus鈥� earthly ministry, recounted in the day鈥檚 Gospel. 鈥淚n the moment of desolation,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淛esus has a gaze capable of seeing beyond: He praises the wisdom of the Father and is able to discern the good that grows unseen, the seed of the Word welcomed by the simple, the light of the Kingdom of God that shows the way even in the night.鈥�
At the beginning of the General Assembly, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渨e do not need purely natural vision, made up of human strategies, political calculations, or ideological battles.鈥� Instead, he said, 鈥淲e are here to walk together with the gaze of Jesus, Who blesses the Father and welcomes those who are weary and oppressed.鈥�
A gaze that blesses
Despite facing rejection, Jesus does not allow Himself 鈥渢o be imprisoned by disappointment,鈥� but instead looks to the Father, remaining 鈥渟erene even in the storm,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.
He explained that Jesus invites us to be a Church that contemplates God鈥檚 action and discerns the present; 鈥渁 Church that does not face today鈥檚 challenges and problems with a divisive and contentious spirit but, on the contrary, turns its eyes to God who is communion and, with awe and humility, blesses and adores him, recognizing him as its only Lord.鈥�
Quoting Benedict XVI, 杏MAP导航 Francis said the 鈥渇undamental question鈥� facing the Synod is 鈥淗ow can we communicate the reality鈥� that God has spoken 鈥渢o the people of today, so that it becomes salvation.鈥�
The welcoming gaze of Christ
Jesus, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渢hroughout His life鈥� takes on the welcoming gaze of God the Father 鈥渢oward the weakest, the suffering, and the discarded.鈥�
鈥淭his welcoming gaze of Jesus also invites us to be a welcoming Church鈥� calling us to an inner attitude that allows us 鈥渢o encounter each other without fear,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.
鈥淚n synodal dialogue, in this beautiful 鈥榡ourney in the Holy Spirit鈥� that we are making together as the People of God,鈥� he continued, 鈥渨e can grow in unity and friendship with the Lord in order to look at today鈥檚 challenges with his gaze.鈥�
Following in the footsteps of St Francis
Finally, the Holy Father invited the People of God to follow in the footsteps of St Francis, the Saint of the day.
Recalling Jesus鈥� call to St Francis to 鈥淕o and repair my Church,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淭he Synod serves to remind us of this: our Mother the church is always in need of purification鈥�; and he invited the faithful to take up 鈥渙nly the weapons of the Gospel: humility and unity, prayer and charity.鈥�
A place of grace and communion
Concluding his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis insisted once again that the Synod is 鈥渘ot a political gathering, but a convocation in the Spirit; not a polarized parliament, but a place of grace and communion.鈥�
鈥淭he Holy Spirit,鈥� he said, 鈥渙ften shatters our expectations to create something new that surpasses our predictions and negativity.鈥� And so, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淟et us open ourselves to Him, the protagonist, the Holy Spirit. And let us walk with Him, in trust and with joy.鈥�
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