Mike’s Meditations: Are You in the

Are you in the Majority?

Mike Van Vranken, Spiritual Director

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect” -Mark Twain

SOMEONE ASKED ME the other day if I thought the Synod on Synodality was a success. Since it will not end for another year, there is no way to even consider an answer today. But an appropriate question we can ask ourselves now is: “Has my ability to engage in actively listening created a lasting change in how I encounter Christ in today’s world?” The entire purpose of the synod is to allow us to learn to listen. And we have been especially called to listen to those who have normally been provided little or no voice. It’s not that they are not talking. They’ve been talking, sometimes screaming! They are not heard because we don’t listen; and in some cases, we don’t even know how to listen. Most of us love to hang with people who look, think, and speak like us. On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, it’s easy, once we find ourselves in the majority, to ignore those who don’t fit in to our paradigm of how things should be. We keep our distance. And in doing so, we lose our opportunity to serve them, to share with them, to minister to them, to heal them, to accompany them, and to deeply love them. We cut off all access to them and we never hear their cries for dignity, justice, and their longing to be included with us in every way. Each phase of this synod process gives us opportunities to listen locally, and then, through the summaries of listening sessions in every country, continent, and worldwide, we continue to listen to all whom we have not clearly heard in the past. It’s at this point that we have the spiritual freedom to enter our own inward chapel and visit with God about his deep desires for us. It is in these quiet, contemplative moments, that we pay close attention to God and discern how he is moving in us. A contemplative practice like this allows us to become more compassionate and humble. This consistent and sacred time with God allows his graces to change us. As you’ve read here before, this synod is not about changing church teaching or rules. It has always been about you and me allowing God to change us. The change here is when we learn to listen to someone else, according to Matthew 25:40, we have learned to listen to God. Listening to God inspires us to respond in humble, compassionate, and loving ways. When we enter our inner chapel, listening to God, paying attention to God’s movements within us, God is able to continue to form and shape our ongoing conversion so we can be the body of Christ in everyday life. It begins with listening, listening to God, listening to others, then listening to God again, and on and on. So, if we feel the urge to vocally respond to anything we’ve listened to from the synod, let’s ask God for the grace to keep our mouths shut. This is not the time to reply with our own knowledge of doctrine, bible verses, or positive understanding of what we think is orthodox. We are still in the very early stages of learning to listen, taking it to God, becoming more humble and compassionate, and allowing God to change us. Don’t find yourself in the groups who have dismissed the synod and moved on. Instead, realize this is a perfect time to pause, reflect and actively listen to God speaking to your own heart. This is how we mature spiritually. This is how we grow in our relationship with God. This is how we learn to be humble and compassionate. This is how we evolve into the people God has called us to be.