Synod. Journeying Together

Synod

Journeying together.

John 6 54-69

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh^* is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.  And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

When I read John’s Gospel, I see that it is an invitation to love, to come to know love, and see in Jesus the personification of God’s loving, creating word. I also read the uncompromising language of Jesus in proclaiming, whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day. I hear the words of his disciples “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus is love, he is the way, truth and life also.

This gospel passage intrigues me as we reflect upon the Synod process, journeying together, accompanying one another. For some there has been an agenda placed upon the Synod discussions from the start. Let us hear from those who are not happy with the church and let us listen to them, can be the driving motivation. That’s ok, what then? The process involves listening to whoever would like to speak, and this will happen, the invitation is sent out. But synodal ways are about love, a shared response, and sometimes that response means parting ways and accompanying from a distance. It is to be expected as the modern mantra involves the freedom for people, who are finding and living their own truth.

The Church does not intend to supress freedom but encourages dialogue, loving conversations, truthful exchanges and though this may not always feel to be the way, the Church when being faithful to Christ, accompanies people. Our truth is founded and built upon Christ, and when we listen to him prayerfully,  asking the Holy Spirit to help us truly listen, then his truth becomes our own.

I note that Jesus did not race after those disciples who went back to their former lives and did not accompany him anymore. He did not say “hold on I will water down my language, and hope that that is acceptable to you, and you can return.”

It is a “hard teaching” being a Christian! The disciples who remained said to Jesus when he said are you going to leave me too? “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. we have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God!”

As we accompany others in our journey of life, we are to speak with love, we are to speak from our knowledge of who Christ, the bread of life is. If people are not convinced of this truth, we are not to water down Christ. The synod is not looking for “Christ Lite” but seeking in all humility to utter the same words of the disciples…Master, you have the message of eternal life…You are the Holy One of God.