Bishop Brian’s Personal Reflections on Synodality in three areas

1 A Witness to the Holy Spirit’s Activity

The Synod Assemblies have concluded but now is the time for synodality to be implemented. Towards the end of the Second Assembly (Oct 24) I increasingly felt the call to witness and implement synodality on my return home. I knew that this would have its challenges. Interestingly several other delegates shared the same conviction. On the Synod’s final day Pope Francis asked the Synod participants to return home as witnesses to synodality. This is something I take seriously and I strive to be a witness through conversation but also in deeds.

Towards the end of the First Assembly (October 23) we received the draft Synthesis Report. There had been some anxiety among delegates before this: would we recognise the Report as a fair and accurate account of our work? After an initial first read I remember leaving the Aula in deep peace convinced that Pope Francis intensely trusted the Holy Spirit and that he had trusted that the participants would also be sufficiently open to the Spirit’s guidance. I still have that deep peace today.

I’m the only Scot who has been present from grass roots level (i.e. parishes - I was serving St Andrew’s, Rothesay for 6 months - and other Church and non-Church groups) through to diocesan, national, Continental levels and the two Assemblies in Rome. For three years I saw and experienced many joys, concerns, hopes, fears, divisions and unity. I experienced how the process developed and most impressively the change in participants (including myself) and I have no doubts this was the work of the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t mean I am blind to the challenges of synodality, but I am convinced that it is the work of the Spirit. The passages from the beginning of the Book of Revelation often came to my mind “listen to the Spirit speaking to the Churches.” Pope Francis quoted this scriptural phase in the first sentence of his Accompanying Note to the Final Report. This was the first Synod that a Pope did not write a subsequent Exhortation after the Assembly concluded. Rather he accepted our Final Report in its entirety and made it part of the teaching of the Successor of Peter. For me, therefore, witnessing to the Spirit’s presence and activity within the synodal process and implementing its fruits is a matter of conscience.

2 How do I Sum Up Synodality in One Word?

Listening!

There are many aspects to and understandings of synodality but essentially, I sum up synodality in one word: Listening. We must listen to the Holy Spirit through prayer and in people. Through baptism we are all temples of the Holy Spirit and graced with specific insights, experiences and wisdom. We must also listen with a Christ-like attitude to those who are or feel marginalised.

Other important aspects naturally flow from this key element of listening:

• Synodality must be rooted in prayer. If what we are speaking about is not of the Holy Spirit, it is not synodality.
• Wide listening and consultation come first but then the content is discerned: is what has been heard of the Spirit or not?
• Inner Conversion. Synodality presumes humility and openness.
• All are equal in God’s eyes. Particular vocations arise out of baptism.
• Quality of communal discernment depends on the quality of personal discernment. For me this is crucial. It is dangerous to think we can communally discern if we don’t first personally discern. Otherwise, we will be ignorant of the Spirit’s movements and follow our personal/group’s untested convictions.
• Conversation in the Spirit is only one method of consultation but a very effective one where everyone prays, listens, shares and receives equal respect. It transforms the atmosphere and quality of meetings. I am convinced that it should be implemented at all levels of Church.

3 My Hope for Synodality

My hope is that we seriously and consistently begin to listen and seek God’s will together. This may seem very unambitious compared to resolving this or that hot topic. Yet what should come first for disciples? Surely to listen to the Master and put into practice what we hear! We don’t do this nearly enough. I think that there are many good people in the Church who want what is best for the Church, for her mission and for society but they try to work out plans themselves instead of intentionally and consistently seeking God’s will. We live in challenging times but listening to God, discerning God’s will, will have such a positive impact on the Church and how she carries out her mission. There will always be hope when disciples listen and positively respond to the Holy Spirit.