As you read today’s Eucharistic Reflection, Pope Francis will be gathered for the Second Collegial Session of the Synod on Synodality in Rome. A representative group of bishops, priests’ women religious and lay men and women of the universal Church will seek to understand and implement the reality of synodality and, through that process, to help envision a less hierarchical and more synodal process in the Church.
In the past three years, my small urban parish in Cleveland, Ohio, has been envisioning this local community’s future. During these years, we have been involved in several small group listening sessions and data-collecting surveys, which were given to the parish council, which, after several months, was able to draft a preliminary document. This document provided the basis for a one-day synodal meeting of the parish. Over 100 people reacted to that document. A new working document was presented to a special parish “writing committee” that suggested many amendments, none contradicting the synod’s work. The final document was later submitted to the pastor for approval. The document, “With and Under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit,” became the charter for the parish council and the parish for the next five years.
Today’s reading from St. Paul drew me back to our experience of parish synodality. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” While our synod had different approaches and points of view, our synodal meetings greatly followed Saint Paul’s guidance.
Let us pray and implore the Holy Spirit that the Assembly in Rome is guided by these same principles so that whatever emanates from this ecclesial gathering will evoke for the Catholic, Christian, and global communities, “See how they love another.”
Let Us Pray:
Holy Spirit, you enliven the Church and keep it faithful to the mission of the Lord Jesus. Inspire those who now gather with Pope Francis to re-envision and revitalize that mission in our historical time. May we speak clearly to an end to war and violence? May the poor, the refugees, the migrants, the starving, those living on the periphery, and those who have no one to plead their case, be our cause. Creation and all of us suffer the impacts of the destruction of the environment; please let us see a sign of hope and encouragement to move forward in this gathering. Holy Spirit, create a new Pentecost in our time and may celebrating the Eucharist always move us into action. Amen.