“We gain control by letting go. We come to know by not knowing,†says Fr Michael Whelan SM ashe explains the power of listening within. Life, sooner or later - if we let it - leads us into the realisation that the more we know, the more we know we do not know. In other words, we experience the inexhaustible intelligibility of reality. This is what we call mystery. Life does have many problems that invite solutions. But life itself is not a problem. We should not look for solutions to life. Life is a mystery to be lived. As in life, there are many problems in the Church that invite solutions. But, as in life, the Church - our life together in Christ - is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.
“Show us the wayâ€
“Thomas said: ‘How can we know the way?’ Jesus said: ‘I am the Way ... â€â€™ (John 14:6). Thomas sees a problem and asks for a solution. Instead, Jesus invites Thomas - and us - into the Source of all mystery. Here we are immersed in paradox. We gain control by letting go. We come to know by not knowing. We discover that true success in life comes as a gift rather than a conquest. We become fully alive by daily dying.This demands commitment, hard work and patience. Letting go is not easy, not knowing can be very painful, surrendering can be frightening, dying daily can demand every ounce of courage that we can muster.There has to be a lot of unlearning. Our learned inclination is to evade the discomfort paradoxes by reducing everything to Navigation figbhave solutions. Solutions promise control. So, weset about developing strategies and plans, aims and goals, we work out how we are going to get there ...just like Thomas! However, if we care to listen, we will hear Jesus say repeatedly: “I am the way!†Then, and only then, will the problem-solving make sense. Listening within
The first work - and it is hard work - is listening.The first listening, without which all the subsequent listening will be more or less impeded, is listening towhat is happening within. How I relate with myself is going to significantly affect how I relate with you. There is a helpful story from the Desert Fathers and Mothers:
One of the best known of the Desert Fathers of fourth-century Egypt, Saint Serapion the Sindonite, traveled once on pilgrimage to Rome. Here he wastold of a celebrated recluse, a woman who livedalways in one small room, never going out. Scepticalabout her way of life - for he was himself a greatwanderer - Serapion called on her and asked: ‘Why are you sitting here?’
To this she replied: 'I am not sitting, I am on ajourney’ [Jean-Marie Howe OCSO, Secret of the Heart:Spiritual Being, Cistercian Publications, 1999/2005, xiii].Listening within can be aided by the practice of open questioning. Open questions are asked, not to findanswers, but to be present in a non-judgemental and attentive way. Open questioning can help us face truth in our experience. Sometimes we would rather not face truth because it is painful. It may help to remember the rest of Jesus’ words to Thomas: “I am the way, the truth and the life†(John 14:6). Jesus -“the life†- comes to us disguised as truth. Listening within can humble us. It can make us aware of our broken humanity - a humanity that weshare with others. This can help move us beyond our prejudices and towards unity with others. TheSpirit can thus lead us in a journey where “there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free,there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus†(Galatians 3:28).Conversation and synodality
Conversation is crucial. It must play a central role inour lives, especially in our becoming Church. But real conversation does not just happen. Common usageof the word hides its true subtleties, challenges and life-giving possibilities.
Real conversation can, in fact, only happen when weare open to change through encounter with the other. Listening within can prepare us for this openness. IfI approach conversation, thinking that I am right andyou are wrong, there can be no real conversation.There might be arguments, discussion, debate, light-hearted pleasantries, but there will not be real conversation - unless I change.
Real conversation is at the very heart of synodality. There can be no synodality without real conversation and it is the nature of the Church to be synodal.Pope Francis reminds us that synodality is
Journeying together...the word of God journeys with us. Everyone has a part toplay; no one is a mere extra.(Address to the Faithful of the Diocese of Rome,18 September 2021).
Social Justice - I wonder how engaging in regular moments of silence or meditation can help us cultivate a sense of inner stillness and clarity, enabling us to respond more effectively to the challenges and injustices we encounter in the world. (By A. D. - Marist Laity - from AUSTRALIA - 2023-7-8)
Marist - I wonder how the content on this page reflects the Marist Laitys call to live the Gospel values in their everyday lives, bringing the Marist spirit to various professional and personal contexts. (By A. D. - Marist Laity - from AUSTRALIA - 2023-7-8)
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