Synops of the Synod: Show, then tell

CatholicAnchor.org
The much-anticipated bishop’s synod on the family wrapped up on Oct. 25.

For three weeks, Cardinals, archbishops, priests and invited laity from around the world gathered in Rome to grapple with how Catholics can better reach out to families — inviting them to a fuller encounter with Christ and his church. Pope Francis also aimed to find ways to better support families who are heroically attempting to live their faith.

While much of the global press focused on hot-button debates about whether to let divorced and civilly remarried couples return to Communion, or how the church can use different language in reference to gays and lesbians and those living together outside of marriage, the heart of the synod was in finding ways to support the first cell of the church — the family.

Pope Francis issued a final statement before bishops departed, urging them to continue seeking ways to reach out to modern families with the joy and hope of the Gospel.

As part of this address, the pope inserted an extended and very detailed footnote about the mission of the church in regards to families. Here he asked the church to re-propose to the world — in language it can understand — the inspiring and life-changing Good News of Christ’s Gospel.

The basic takeaway from this is that it won’t be enough to simply quote passages from the Catechism and march people through factory-like sacramental formation programs. Rather, the truths of the church must be presented in such a manner that people are inspired to listen and grapple with a living faith. That doesn’t mean watering down or soft-peddling the hard challenges of the Gospel, but it does mean rethinking how these messages are delivered.

The pope’s closing address to bishops noted that the church needs to form new generations of believers who are inspired by the enduring and fruitful love found within family bonds. According to Pope Francis, this will happen when people see and experience God’s love in how the church (meaning all of us) defends the sacredness of all human life and the unbreakable bond of marriage. These are signs, the pope notes, “of God’s grace and of the human person’s ability to love seriously.”

When we support marriages, celebrate them and help them heal, we show that we are serious about marriage — it’s not just a term with a theological definition but a beautiful way to live and grow and pass on our most treasured traditions.

The pope proposes that the church launch innovative marriage preparation programs, approached less like rote formalities and more like “training for a lifelong commitment.” Part of this training should include “helping banish from young hearts the fear of making definitive commitments” the pope writes.

Pope Francis realizes that one of the greatest treasures the church possesses is strong families, joyfully living and boldly sharing their hope with others. These families are living proof and concrete witness of all the church formally teaches about family. Vibrant families are the life and breath behind all the theology, and the attractive force that encourages others to embark on family life.

But the pope also observes that there are many struggling, and living out the mission of the family includes the ways we treat the marginalized, sick and suffering we encounter. Pope Francis says we must go out to the pain and darkness to bring hope. And when we go out, the pope notes, we must “love unconditionally” all families, but especially those experiencing difficulties, since no family should feel alone or excluded from the church’s loving embrace.

At the risk of extreme oversimplification, perhaps this one-liner is a good way to sum up the message of the recent synod: First show the beauty of the lived Gospel, then tell all about it to those who stand in wonder.

— Joel Davidson, editor