Mass at the Synod Retreat: A Humble Church in the Mission

Alessandro Di Bussolo and Christine Suss – Vatican City

In his homily at Mass in St Peter's Cathedral on Monday evening, the Archbishop of Perth, one of the council's plenipotentiaries, spoke about St Jerome, whose feast day is celebrated on September 30. Perhaps this is a happy coincidence, Costello says, regarding a saint who teaches that “ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.” This also indicates that in the work of the Synod in the coming weeks, Christ must not be ignored or forgotten, “if we seek together to recognize what God is asking of the Church at this time,” Costello stressed. He and the other 367 participants in the 16th session. In the coming days, he said, the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will have to answer “the question of how we can be a synodal Church in mission” “with an eye on Christ.”

How can collegiality be lived in the church?

“Pope Francis called on all participants in the General Assembly to be together a missionary synodal Church,” Costello continued, referring to St. Jerome, whom the Church remembers today as “a passionate and difficult man.” It is now important to think “not so much about what collegiality is, but about how to live it at every level of the life of the Church.” This also applies to “individual Christians,” but above all “as persons who are always called to be living signs and instruments of communion with God and of unity among all people in small and large communities.”

Lots of options

Just as God created Eve alongside Adam to enter into a “relationship” and form a “community,” the course of the Synod so far affirms to the Australian Archbishop that “we are made for each other according to God’s creative plan, that we depend on each other, and that through our relationships we become the people he created us to be.” God let us be.”

This Synod's “seminars in the spirit” have deepened awareness of the possibilities offered by “deep, respectful and quiet concern for others,” and the Archbishop praised the methodology of the current Synod. On Monday afternoon, before Mass, small groups also gathered in the audience hall for such an exchange. In these relationships, Costello continues, we can recall the words addressed by Saint Paul to the early Christian community in Philippi, namely that they should adopt “the same attitude” that was in Christ Jesus.

Deep human encounters

In the relationships into which Jesus enters, the Gospel shows us “what truly profound human encounters look like,” the Archbishop of Perth affirms. You can see here “the infinite patience that Jesus had toward these, and especially toward his closest disciples, who repeatedly did not understand him and often disappointed him.” But also the “extraordinary sensitivity” he brings to “those who seem burdened by the weight of their sin, and how that sensitivity sets them free.” And finally, “his compassion for those who are lost, confused, or marginalized, and how this compassion restores hope to them.”

Christ is the path to the poor church, in message and listening

Christ, who told his disciples at the Last Supper: “I am the way and the truth and the life,” also has a message for the church that will experience the council: “If you want to be a hospitable and welcoming church, then learn from me, for I am the way,” Costello said. The same is true if the church wants to be poor and humble, a church that sends and listens. Finally, the Archbishop of Perth called for prayer and the intercession of the Virgin Mary that “the Spirit of Christ will enable us to promote harmony and not chaos” and that in him “we find our unity and together a living mystery of communion with God and unity among all.” the people”.

(Vatican News)