What is the Real Presence for You?
The Church stands before an opportunity to be church in a sense not experienced since the early centuries of Christianity, when the whole people of God was able to take part much more integrally than ever since in the life of faith. Now, not a restricted geographical region or single culture, but church leaders from all over the world have joined in Rome for the Synod, bringing with them the prayerfully gathered discernments from the faithful in their dioceses. In a real sense, these are the elders—adults who have faithfully participated in their local church settings and have a lived knowledge of the church in the trenches.
Much as with the first Ecumenical Council, the Council of Jerusalem, when the budding church had to confront the issue of Gentiles joining in with a previously Jewish body of believers, we stand before a world that is no longer Christendom; no longer speaks our language. We ask how we can reach out to these new generations in a way they can relate to. One can think of Paul, who found ways to speak to the Greeks and Romans in ways that reached them.
Yet many in the Church do not trust the Synod. It’s not surprising. We all feel safest with the tried and true, what we know and the words we use to express it. Christians living in the early days of the Renaissance, when Arab neighbors were reintroducing Greek thought lost in the chaos after Rome’s fall, the Dark Ages—those Christians feared Thomas Aquinas’ reworking of Aristotle as a way to understand the Catholic faith. Aquinas was suspect because he introduced a new way of talking about the faith; and he was not alone in having his ideas rejected at first, and then later embraced.
Jesus himself had to trust 12 common men, after three short years of seminary experience, to convey the message of his new Way to the world. His experience with them could not have given him much confidence in their human potential for this work, but he knew without a doubt what the Holy Spirit would accomplish in them We know how the Holy Spirit’s work in them established the Church and has sustained her over two millennia. The Church continues to live and grow through the Holy Spirit; and so, now, the Synod is a framework for allowing the Spirit to work in the Church in a concerted way.
Think how carefully this process has been designed to enable the Spirit to lead: first in small groups; then among local leaders; then in a world gathering. My own archbishop, Samuel Aquila of Denver, laid the ground most judiciously so as to allow the Holy Spirit to move through this process. First he asked the entire archdiocese to participate in an Advent retreat, where we would pray over the basic truths of our faith. Then interested parishioners gathered under trained parish leaders to prayerfully consider where God is leading his church. Their concerns were noted and carried to a general gathering of representatives from all of the parishes. Discussion in this large gathering was always taken to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament; all proceedings were in a spirit of prayer.
All of this was summarized in a Synodal statement for the Archdiocese. I trust that it is this document that will guide Archbishop Aquila as he gathers with the Church in Rome. Like Jesus, we trust in the Holy Spirit to guide human leaders to follow God’s plan.
This being the case, it is highly out of line to be second-guessing the process, anticipating poor outcomes, doubting the leadership. All of these attitudes reflect lack of faith in the Holy Spirit to lead the Church. In fact, they also impede the Spirit in the work of enlivening the Church. In the face of all of the prayerful preparation for this great gathering, who would want to stand in the way of the Holy Spirit?
The Media’s part is par for the course. Both secular and religious media press for particular agendas, overemphasizing controversial issues not at the center of the agenda. Wisely, Pope Francis is asking for silence from the media as the discussions proceed. Not secrecy, but a freedom from media interpretation until the work of the Synod is complete. Yet we are anxious to know what is being said, what decided. We are apprehensive.
The most appropriate course of action in all situations where we have done our part and have no control of the outcome is prayer. Now is the time to invoke the Holy Spirit, to trust God. We can put this in God’s hands, knowing that he understands the world far better than we do, and wants with greater passion than we to have all people come to a knowledge of him. Like the father of the Prodigal Son, he waits for his wayward children. Like Jesus, he wants us to go out to bring in this harvest ready to be brought in. Like the Shepherd, he is ready to go out after the lost, and we, his followers need to know how to go out into the deserts and wastelands to find them.
Let us quell our doubts and join with the Church in praying for the Synod.
We can invoke Saints Francis and Saint Bonaventure, who worked towards the unity of the Church in troubled times. St. Catherine of Sienna also faced a church divided by struggles in Rome. All of these would be excellent intercessors.
And here are some prayers:
This prayer is from the Vatican website Pray for the Synod
We thank you for blessing the synodal preparatory work
in communities, institutions and by individuals.
May the significant event of the Synod open new doors for the Church
in her self-understanding and mission.
May the Synod remain open to grace,
and approach all things with humility and courage.
Dispose it to hear “what the Spirit is saying to the Church“ (Rev 3:22)
and where the Spirit is blowing it to action.
Amen.
Prayer:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit!!