Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
We live in a time of deep division, of dissension, but that’s not new. Right now if feels heightened and more. The dissension is not just among leaders, but also often in our own lives and local communities. So much is at stake; how are we to move forward?
Take a deep breath.
Listen. Pause for prayer.
Listen to God’s Word, to God’s voice in the silence, to the Holy Spirit moving in one another.
Pause again for prayer. Notice and name the tension. Don’t fear it.
Listen.
Celebrate what joy there is to celebrate.
Go toward the tension with goodwill and love, seeking God’s will.
This is what I am reminded of when I read the first reading from Acts today, as we embark on an archdiocesan synod. “There was no little dissension and debate.” It’s important to remember that there was debate because they were all seeking God’s will, passionate about the life of faith, and each wanted to be faithful to God. These are good reasons for disagreement! The Document for the Continental Stage of the Synod on Synodality reminded us that tension is not to be feared. In fact, tension in tent ropes holds up a tent and creates a safe structure; tension on stringed instruments creates music. The question is, how can we hold the tensions in the right balance and with love? It takes a lot of listening to learn to do that well.
It’s not all listening, though! Notice that as the early Christians held tension and continued to discern and consult the wider church, they continued to spread the good news. As they walked to Jerusalem to consult and find the best way forward on a particular issue, they were telling good news and bringing great joy!
When the disciples arrived in Jerusalem, they were “received by the Church and the Apostles.” The Church, the community, received them. In addition to listening and discernment, being on mission, another key aspect of synodality is that we are the Church; the Church is more than the hierarchy or clergy. They are an important part of the Church; they lead and serve in a particular and important way, and all the baptized are called, by virtue of our baptism, to be missionary disciples. We are all on the way together. Received by the Church and sent by the Church - received in our community of faith and sent by our community of faith to tell the good news.
As we prepare to become one parish and as we prepare for our archdiocesan synod, some questions we might ask ourselves are: How am I listening to God’s Word and to others? How are we holding tension? How am I, how are we, speaking the Gospel with joy along the way?
—Kelly Adamson