In “Conclusion” have I not found a sense of “#rest“ by blogging about “The Synodal Church in the World” and reflecting on how, within the Diocese of Amarillo the “yoke” of synodality teaches me to “breathe correctly” so as to bear the “burden” of:
- A memorial erected by a convicted pedophile priest in honor of a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting that priest “a second chance,” a decision that ultimately led to the destruction of the innocence of youth;
- A letter on the diocesan website letter rebuking “a few” who reported abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral, casting them aside instead of pursuing justice, healing and reconciliation;
- The abortion of daily Masses at St. Mary’s Cathedral under the guise of fostering “an incredible sense of Reverence for the…Priests and especially for the Bishops“, effectively weaponizing the Eucharist as a tool of power and control;
- The construction of a second bishop’s residence, symbolically reinforcing hierarchical dominance and seemingly designed to “put our next bishop in his place” before his arrival❓
Through these reflections, have I not explored how the principles of synodality have offered both clarity and challenge amidst these burdens, as echoed in today’s Gospel, Matthew 11: 28-30
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you “rest“. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS
How to be a missionary synodal Church
Instrumentum laboris
Conclusion – The Synodal Church in the World
109.
Bishop Zurek, for his part, referred to Matthiesen’s actions as a ‘serious mistake“, yet approved the erection of the memorial and continues to allow it to remain.
Since, “Everything in this world is connected and is marked by a restless longing for the other, shouldn’t I seek “rest“ from a memorial erected by convicted pedophile priest in honor of a bishop who made the “serious mistake” of granting him “a second chance“—a decision that ultimately led to the destruction of innocence—even though it is not at my parish because will not such a thing inevitably cause me to “faint and grow weary“❓
“Everything is a call to a relationship and a witness to the fact that, ultimately, no-one and no thing is self-sufficient“; consequently, can a Reflection on Christian Life truly guide me if it implies that “a few” who reported clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral are less than the “rest“ of the “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires” who proclaim, “O bless the Lord, my soul!“❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “The whole world, when contemplated in the light of Christian Revelation, is a sacramental sign of a presence that both transcends and animates it, leading to encounter with God, which will ultimately be fulfilled in the convivial sociality of differences, fully realized at the eschatological banquet prepared by God on his holy mountain; accordingly, when St. Mary’s Cathedral—citing the priests’ health and spirituality—aborts the daily Eucharist, a precursor of this eschatological banquet, should I simply “rest“ from seeking answers to my questions until I hear, “Behold, the Lord comes to save his people; blessed are those prepared to meet him.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia.
Finally, “rest“ opens my eyes to the larger picture and gives me renewed sensitivity to the rights of others; therefore, as I approach the final blog of this series by writing the “Conclusion – The Synodal Church in the World“, which addresses the “sins against synodality“—the very sins that now place our new bishop in a position where he must “Just Say NO❣️” to being “put in his place,”—can I not affirm the truth of Jesus’ words when He said:
“‘…and you will find rest for yourselves‘”❓
“Rest“ opens our eyes to the larger picture and gives us renewed sensitivity to the rights of others.
From paragraph 237 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME