As I approach the “Conclusion” of blogging about “The Synodal Church in the World“, have I not discovered that I can now articulate an “elevator speech” about how it is not “impossible” for the Diocese of Amarillo to address significant concerns, including:
- 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 exclusion;
- 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 begun to understand who I am, what I do, and why it matters—echoing Mary’s own journey of self-discovery and acceptance of her calling as shared in today’s Gospel, Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.
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
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, “Transformed by the proclamation of the Resurrection, the Church seeks to become a place where Isaiah’s vision is breathed and lived so as to be “refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat” (Is. 25:4)., why should it be deemed “impossible” to remove 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—so that we, as a community, can truly hear “a loud voice in heaven say: ‘Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed.‘”❓
If, “In this way, the Church opens its heart to the Kingdom.“; consequently, can a Reflection on Christian Life truly open my heart to the Kingdom if it implies that it is “impossible” for “a few” who reported clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral to be “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires” or to be told, “You are the highest honor of our race.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “When the members of the Church allow themselves to be led by the Spirit of the Lord to horizons that they had not previously glimpsed, they experience immeasurable joy”; moreover, “In its beauty, humility, and simplicity, this is the ongoing conversion of the way of being the Church that the synodal process invites us to undertake; conversely, when St. Mary’s Cathedral—citing the priests’ health and spirituality—aborts the daily Eucharist, does this not, although not “impossible“, make it more difficult to embody the beauty, humility, and simplicity to which we are called and which we reverence in our Holy Mother as we proclaim: “Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia.
Finally, convinced as I am that meaningful change is “impossible” without both motivation and a process of education, should I not propose some inspired guidelines for human development found within the treasure of Christian spiritual experience; furthermore, cannot these guidelines serve as a foundation for the “Conclusion – The Synodal Church in the World“, addressing 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,”—accordingly, in this spirit, can I not find reassurance and direction in the angel’s words to Mary:
Lucas Bennett: How can you tell which one is dead and which one is not?
Old Woman: No, you can’t, it’s “impossible“. It’s a beautiful mystery, isn’t it❓
Finally, convinced as I am that change is “impossible” without motivation and a process of education, I will offer some inspired guidelines for human development to be found in the treasure of Christian spiritual experience.
From paragraph 15 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME