Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
This dwelling in which we live—“members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets”—is not one in which we have chosen our journey companions, not unlike the family we were born into. This fact speaks to us of God’s saving action: “You are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God.”
It can be helpful to remember this Scripture whenever we hear something about a “synodal church.” The word, “synod” is an ancient and venerable word in the Tradition of the Church, whose meaning draws on the deepest themes of Revelation. Composed of a preposition συν (with) and the noun όδός (path), it indicates the path along which the People of God walk together. Equally, it refers to the Lord Jesus, who presents Himself as “the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14,6), and to the fact that Christians, His followers, were originally called “followers of the Way.”
Pope Francis set the Church onto this foundation in a series of meetings “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission,” which concluded in October 2024.
O Jesus, you are the Way. Give me your Spirit to follow in you!
Reflection by Fr. Xavier Nacke, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections