Synodality and the Holy Spirit

SYNODALITY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Pope Francis’ initiative  “A Synod on Synodality”  is a consequence of his conviction that the Church is the People of God, and that the People share in the gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  He takes seriously the insight of the Second Vatican Council that “All disciples of Christ are obliged to spread the faith to the best of their ability” (Lumen Gentium, 17).)

   All the People of God are called to be actively engaged in the saving mission of the Church. All the People by virtue of the gifts of the Holy Spirit granted to them in baptism and confirmation  are “endowed with diverse gifts and charisms for the renewal and building up of the Church, as members of the Body of Christ” (Vademecum For the Synod on Synodality, Synod Bishops, 1.3).

   The term synod comes from the Greek word odos, which means path, way, road, and  “indicates the path along which the People of God walk together. Equally, it refers to the Lord Jesus, who presents himself as ‘the way, the truth and the life’ (Jn 14:6), and to the fact that Christians, His followers, were originally called ‘followers of the Way’ (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4;; 24:14,22.)” (Vademecum, 1.2).

   It is Pope Francis’ hope and intention that the People of God worldwide would develop the mentality of walking together in this world and toward the Kingdom by following the Way of the Lord. A synod is not an occasion for griping and complaining about the Church or its hierarchy. It is rather the difficult exercise of listening for the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit and thereby determining the path that God wants us to follow.

   It may be that all the preparatory documents and directions for a synod on synodality have not emphasized enough the need for those who participate through their talking and listening that the guidance of the Holy Spirit is a necessary, essential element in the process of developing for the Church in our time the mentality implied in a truly synodal Church.

   For many Catholics their prayers of adoration, praise, petition, and apology are directed to God the Father and God the Son but God the Holy Spirit is neglected. The success of this synodal endeavor requires a sensitivity on the part of the People to the inspiration of that Spirit. That sensitivity is difficult to acquire because it means listening; it means being quiet, silent; it means putting aside our own agenda and being open to direction from the Divine One. Such a practice requires patience, self-emptying, and openness to change and to something new .

   Synodality is not forcing our convictions, theologies, and devotions on the People of God; on the contrary, forming a synodal Church in its purest state is implementation of our daily prayer: “Thy will be done!” Jesus’ invitation is “Come, follow me!” We must re-learn the lesson from the old bromide “God created human beings in the divine image and human beings have been returning the favor ever since.”

   The Synod of Bishops reminds us that “In the end, this Synodal Process seeks to move toward a Church that is more fruitfully at the service of the kingdom of heaven.” And let me emphasize again that this process requires paying attention to the voice of the Holy Spirit.