By Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu
Archbishop of Visakhapatnam
Holy Father, Pope Francis and his initiatives during his pontificate have been regarding the day to day life in the Church. As the head of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father is concerned with the wellbeing of all the sections of the Church: bishops, priests, religious, and the lay faithful: administration of the temporal goods of the Church, he speaks of the discipline of the clergy and religious, families, youth, the people on the peripheries, connecting always to the mission of the Church regarding all these concerns.
Our pope also makes use of every occasion possible to speak on issues which are not religious in nature our planet earth, climate changes, economic policies of the nations, issues related to migration and migrants, poverty, etc, always appealing to the leaders of nations to address these matters with humane and humanitarian outlook!
Even in these matters, the Holy Father speaks as a Christian leader and assures the world nations that the Church will always do her part as part of the God-given mission entrusted to the Church. It is in this larger scenario we have to see how the Holy Father is inviting the Church to look at her internal life and at her missionary endeavors. If the Church has to be a living, effective and relevant presence as the “Universal Sacrament of Salvation” in the world, a periodical review and re-orienting is necessary.
How is the church seen by the faithful inside the Church and how do the people outside the Christian fold see and experience the Church? Internally, the policies, activities, relationships among different sections of people in the Church have to be in certain order but, are they like that?
And this exercise has to be guided by a vision that is also periodically reviewed and evaluated. Synod 2021-2023 is an opportunity for this exercise, to speak, to listen, and to act! “The history of the Church bears ample witness to the importance of consultation for ascertaining the views of the Bishops and the faithful in matters pertaining to the good of the Church. Hence, even in the preparation of the Synodal Assemblies, it is very important that consultation of all the particular Churches be given special attention.”(Episcopalis Communio, Apostolic Constitution, no.7)
Communion, Participation, and Mission, is being proposed as the vision of the Synod – 2021-2023! The response to this invitation has to be, both individual and communitarian. Listening to what the Spirit is saying to the church about her life and mission. Church should try to look towards the future.
Participation in the Synodal process is the way to express our concern for the Church. This call of the Synod and the Synodal process are also to help the Church to truthfully and critically look at the situation in the Church. The crucial point here is to see whether or not the local Church in the given country or continent, ecclesiastical region, and dioceses is truly a community of believers, journeying together.
The life in the church should be what “God wants it to be and the way God wants it to be engaged in doing what He wants. It is true that not everything is hopeless and bad in the present Church! But, it would not be also true to think or say that “nothing is wrong!” Church is on her journey in history and so it is appropriate to know how this journey is going on, Church is holy and sinful! May Mother Mary, the Mother of the Church, whose Divine Motherhood we celebrate on the first day of the New Year, 2022, accompany the Church on her journey, listening and responding to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches!”
“To the Angel of the Church in Ephesus write: The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. ” ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear evil men but have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and found them to be false: I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember then from what you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2: 1-7).