23rd Sunday Year A - Homily 5

Homily 5 - 2020

We have heard much about discernment in our preparation for the Plenary Council; but we may not have learnt much about what discernment means. For disciples, discernment means trying to work out what God is asking in a particular situation. Typically it means opening to the guidance of the Spirit of God. When what we seek as faith community coincides with what the Spirit inspires us to seek, then we can reasonably expect our search to be blessed by God. However, discerning together the guidance of the Spirit is not always easy. In today’s Gospel Jesus said that a prerequisite is that we agree on our request. He meant “really agree”, not just courteously or unthinkingly go along with someone’s suggestion.

In the last two bishops’ Synods in Rome, Pope Francis encouraged participants to discern the guidance of God’s Spirit. He emphasised the necessity for speakers to speak with integrity, to say honestly what they really meant, to clarify as far as possible why they thought the way they did, and to give an indication of their depth of feeling — and in the process to go beyond repeating mere ideological mantras. Easier said than done.

That was only half the process. He asked those listening really to listen, especially if they thought differently — to listen with respect and to be open to the possibility of the speaker’s saying something significant they had not considered before. This could well be harder than speaking honestly.

After everyone who wanted to speak had said what they wanted to say, Francis then said surprisingly, there would not be a vote where the majority opinion or those with power would carry the day. That only sets up winners who may learn little and losers who may not commit to outcomes. The real task of discernment is to reflect and to pray so as to be sensitive to the leading of God’s Spirit; then to seek a way forward that reflects what the whole group can honestly agree on — not what individuals or factions want but what the group as a whole can accept and commit to wholeheartedly.

With unity the goal, and love and respect the motivation, former intransigence can disappear and unexpected ways forward can appear, seemingly from nowhere.Then the voice of the Spirit can be heard. Not surprisingly, when disciples consciously embrace the heart and hopes of Jesus, he is right “there with them”.