In this “Conclusion” of “The Synodal Church in the World“, can it be said that I “#didnot dance” to the tune my conscience “played“; “Contrariwise” can it not be said that the Diocese of Amarillo “did not mourn” when I “sang a dirge” about:
- 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, justified as 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❓
Yet, despite these challenges, have not these reflections been “vindicated by her works” as Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel, Matthew 11:16-19
Jesus said to the crowds:
“To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
‘He is possessed by a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’
But wisdom is vindicated by her works.”
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.
“The Encyclical Fratelli Tutti presents us with the call to recognize ourselves as sisters and brothers in the Risen Christ, proposing this less as a status and more as a way of life“; therefore, since the “Encyclical emphasizes the contrast between the time in which we live and the vision of conviviality prepared by God“, “did not” this give me reason to question the presence of a memorial erected by a 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—disregarding the LORD who says he desires to “teach you what is for your good‘”❓
“The veil of mourning, the shroud and tears named by Isaiah are present, too, in our own times; furthermore”; are they not “often the result of our increasing isolation from one another, the growing violence and polarization of our world, and our uprootedness from the sources of life“; consequently, “did not” a Reflection on Christian Life contribute to our increasing isolation when it implied that “a few” who reported clergy abuse at St. Mary’s Cathedral were not “faithful and loyal disciples that the Lord Jesus desires“, as if they were unaware that “Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life“❓
Alleluia, alleluia, “The questions that the Instrumentum Laboris asks are: how to be a synodal Church in mission; how to engage in deep listening and dialogue; how to be co-responsible in the light of the dynamism of our personal and communal baptismal vocation; how to transform structures and processes so that all may participate and share the charisms that the Spirit pours out on each for the common good; how to exercise power and authority as service“; moreover, “Each of these questions is a service to the Church and, through its action, to the possibility of healing the deepest wounds of our time“; conversely, when St. Mary’s Cathedral “did not” answer my questions about aborting the daily Eucharist for the priests’ health and spirituality, deepen those wounds, hindering me from hearing, “The Lord will come; go out to meet him! He is the prince of peace.“❓
Alleluia, alleluia.
Finally, The universe “did not” emerge as the result of arbitrary omnipotence, a show of force or a desire for self-assertion; accordingly, by reflecting on this “Conclusion – The Synodal Church in the World“, which confronts 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,”—will I be able to say to the Diocese of Amarillo, “I did what I was called to do”…
The universe “did not” emerge as the result of arbitrary omnipotence, a show of force or a desire for self-assertion.
From paragraph 77 of ENCYCLICAL LETTER LAUDATO SI’ OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME