23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mt 18:15-20
September 10, 2023

Most “regular churchgoers” are at least aware that Pope Francis has called the universal Church to a Synod. This meeting or assembly of the global faithful will convene in the Vatican next month. Leading up to this event, there have been ongoing preparations in the Roman Catholic Diocese around the world. The hope is that “listening sessions,” which began at the parish level in 2021, will enable participants to arrive at the Synod better prepared to have fruitful discussions about our Church.

Considering that this century in salvation history has begun with war, violence, social upheaval, and ideological divisions that seem to run deeper with every passing day, there’s lots to talk about.

But, while this call to gather together in The Name of Jesus Christ has inspired a great deal of enthusiasm, it has also aroused an unfortunate amount of criticism. Certain US Church leaders have been especially vocal about their concerns that this gathering together in The Name of Jesus Christ is an opportunity for evil to attack and erode very basic truths of our Church. Rather than an opportunity to chart an aggressive course into the future, it has been suggested by some that the coming Synod could well bring about a schism.

I do not dismiss these concerns. Still, as I read the dramatic warnings against the Synod, I find it very difficult to justify them with the Gospel we heard proclaimed two Sundays ago. In Matt. 16:13-20, The Lord assures us that the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it (our Church).

Clearly, those who are so opposed to the upcoming gathering together in The Name of Jesus Christ feel that their resistance is necessary to protect and defend Church teaching. But does a gathering together in The Name of Jesus Christ really necessitate such extreme defensive and threatening warnings?

Are we to imagine that those who are traveling to The Vatican for the Synod are not gathering together in The Name of Jesus Christ? Or are we to discount The Lord’s assurance that when disciples: gather together in my name …THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM?

My prayer and reflection on this week’s Readings have led me to these personal opinions…for what they are worth.

Our First Reading makes it quite clear that the duty of a prophet is to WARN those who are in danger of acting in a way that is displeasing to God. Those who have spoken out against the upcoming Synod are definitely WARNING against the possible dire consequences of assembling the universal Church to discuss the burning issues of our times. But I wonder if these WARNINGS have gone beyond what The Holy Spirit intended?

Our Gospel, for example, encourages dialogue…even when it is confrontational or unpleasant. Moreover, if initial efforts at “conflict resolution” fail, the Lord Himself tells us to continue the efforts by bringing in mediators. The objective of the process is to uncover truth, to rest disputes or disagreements, and to restore harmony and peace. After all, PEACE is the precious gift that Jesus left us.

To defer to the warnings of those opposed by canceling or refusing to participate in the Synod seems inconsistent with Matt. 18:15-20. Nevertheless, to proceed without giving due consideration to the WARNINGS against eroding the “basic truths of our faith” is to ignore what God is saying to us in Ezekiel 33:7-9. Possibly, the impasse can be resolved though our Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10.

Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence love is the fulfillment of the Law.

If those gathering for the Synod next month strive to go about their work in the Spirit of Love, then God will certainly be The Guiding Presence. And possibly, some new and exciting insights into how we can be faithful to basic Church teachings while still being faithful to The Law of Love might result. Let us pray!

I do know this much to be true: It does not take a prophet to see and WARN AGAINST the toll this discord is taking on all of humanity. Division and discord seem to be the flavors of the day. In every aspect of life, a cordial meeting of the minds is a rarity. Within families, parishes, the workplace, governing bodies, and certainly among nations, meaningful and fruitful dialogue and conflict resolution seems all but impossible.

This Synod is our Church’s opportunity to give the whole world an example of how to heal. Love is the answer!