October 4, 2023

Reflection by Sister Marie Therese “MT” Summers, OSB

Today we celebrate the close of the liturgical Season of Creation. We also celebrate the Saint of Ecology, St. Francis, that is purposefully synchronized with the opening of the General Assembly of the Synod. Amazing, these three celebrations coming together this October 4^th.  

Pope Francis understands Francis of Assisi well, a saint who set out to rebuild the Church by evoking the example and spirit of the poor man, Jesus. Saint Francis heard the call, followed Christ, and never turned back. He rejected violence, spurned privilege and entitlement. He reached out to members of other religions. He cherished the earth and all its creatures. He pointed to a new form of human and cosmic community, marked by love and mercy. He did all of this with a spirit of joy and freedom.

In these five weeks, my appreciation has exponentially grown in recognizing the diversity in creation: from river’s sizes, falls, trickling streams, mountains high, crags, grassy hillsides, dancing colorful sea creatures and oceans, animals small and large, wild and domesticated. In skies of deep and light blues, lightning riveted night skies, the twinkle from an abundance of stars. A diversity beyond my greatest imagination.

We see Pope Francis daring to bring the wide spectrum of diversity to this 16^th Synod. A Pope who does not want to forget the poor, the simple, women, and those on the margins. I learned at the Leadership Conference for Women Religious that the Pope said there are already many first fruits from the ongoing Synod but added that more time is needed in order for these fruits to become fully mature. (I quote) “In order to provide more time for extended discernment, I have established that this Synodal Assembly will take place in two sessions: The first on October 4-29, 2023 and the second in October 2024.”  He went on to say he hoped this decision will “favor the comprehension of synodality as a constitutive element of the Church and help everyone to live it as a journey of brothers and sisters who bear witness to the joy of the Gospel.”

At the General Assembly, 700 people from around the world have been chosen to be present to include lay women and men, professed religious women and men, pastors, the marginalized alongside a small group of bishops and cardinals. All those chosen will vote on the final document coming from the assembly. After the vote on the final document, the Pope alone decides whether to take any actions based on the recommendations in the final text or whether to adopt it as an official Church document.

These are pertinent times to build a Synodal Church of community, deep listening, participation in the gospel values and to love God, self and all our diverse neighbors.

I close with this invitation to all of us:

1. To praise our Creator with a magnitude of gratitude for the blessings of creation.
2. To recognize the call of St. Francis to each of us to ecological insights, awareness and practices.
3. To continue to pray to the Holy Sprit while the general assembly of the Synod is gathered from October 4 to October 29. Here at the monastery, we will be starting our morning, noon, and evening prayer with these simple words (repeat after me)

          COME HOLY SPIRIT, FILL THE HEARTS OF YOUR FAITHFUL AND KINDLE IN THEM THE FIRE OF YOUR LOVE. SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT AND THEY SHALL BE CREATED AND YOU SHALL RENEW THE FACE OF THE EARTH. AMEN.