{"id":6650,"date":"2021-10-12T15:28:52","date_gmt":"2021-10-12T19:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/pope-celebrating-synod-means-walking-together-same-road\/"},"modified":"2021-10-12T15:28:52","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T19:28:52","slug":"pope-celebrating-synod-means-walking-together-same-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/pope-celebrating-synod-means-walking-together-same-road\/","title":{"rendered":"Pope: Celebrating Synod means walking together on the same road"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Vatican News<\/a>
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\nPope Francis formally opened the Synod of Bishops on Sunday with a solemn Mass in St Peter\u2019s Basilica.<\/p>\n\n

Faithful from around the world \u2013 including laymen and -women, priests, seminarians, women and men religious, cardinals and bishops \u2013 took part in the liturgy, which marked the beginning of a two-year synodal process.
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\nIn his homily<\/a>, Pope Francis took the day\u2019s Gospel reading, recounting Jesus\u2019 encounter with a rich young man, as the starting point for a reflection on synodality: \u201cCelebrating a Synod,\u201d he said, \u201cmeans walking on the same road, together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Following the example of Jesus, he emphasized three verbs that characterize the Synod: encounter, listen, and discern<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

Encounter<\/strong>
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\nIn 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 Pope said, \u201cwe too are called to become experts in the art of encounter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

This involves an openness to God, taking time for prayer and adoration, and listening to what the Holy Spirit tells us.<\/p>\n\n

It also requires openness to others, as well as courage and \u201ca willingness to allow ourselves to be challenged by the presence and the stories of others.
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\nListen<\/strong>
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\nPope 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, \u201cpeople feel they are being heard, not judged; they feel free to recount their own experiences and their spiritual journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

The Pope 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 \u201cquestions, concerns, and hopes of every Church,\u201d and to the challenges and changes presented by the world around us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cLet us not soundproof our hearts; let us not remain barricaded in our certainties,\u201d he pleaded. Instead, \u201cLet us listen to one another.\u201d
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\nDiscern<\/strong>
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\nPope Francis insisted that \u201cencounter and listening are not ends in themselves,\u201d but must lead to discernment. \u201cWhenever we enter into dialogue,\u201d he explained, \u201cwe allow ourselves to be challenged, to advance on the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

As with the rich young man, Jesus helps us to discern, \u201cto look within\u201d and to discover what God reveals to us, \u201cto discern in that light\u201d what our hearts \u201ctruly treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

This \u201cis a valuable lesson to us,\u201d Pope Francis said, adding that \u201cthe Synod is a journey of spiritual discernment that takes place in adoration, in prayer, and in dialogue with the Word of God.\u201d
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\nWhere God is leading us<\/strong>
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\nIn these days of the Synod, the Pope said, \u201cJesus 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 \u2013 and the direction in which He wants to lead us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

\u201cLet us have a good journey together,\u201d Pope Francis said in conclusion. He expressed the hope that we might be \u201cpilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Spirit.\u201d And he urged us  not to miss out \u201con the grace-filled opportunities born of encounter, listening, and discernment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n