At 9:00am today, in the presence of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, the first General Congregation (meeting) of the XIV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began. The theme of this Assembly is: The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the modern world. The meetings will continue until October 25, 2015
The morning began with the chanting of the liturgical Hour of Terce (mid-morning Prayer). During the liturgy, the following homily was offered by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodriíguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras).
Finally brothers, rejoice, change your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor 13:11).
We begin this Synod with great joy. This is a path that began two years ago and which fills us with joy as we meet once again with our brothers, as we have just heard.
Brothers: who come from the four corners of the world, summoned here by Peter, moved by the love of the Lord Jesus and of our Mother, the Church. Saint Paul invites us especially to joy - the joy of the gospel which Pope Francis tirelessly proclaims to all the world. However, as he himself has told us: The greatest risk in the world today, with all its many and overflowing supplies offered for our consumption, is an individual sorrow which springs from the comfortable and greedy heart, the sickening search for superficial pleasures, from an isolated consciousness. At times, we are saddened to hear how the world has forces this Synod into thinking that we come like two opposing bandits who are defending established positions. To be with Jesus Christ, joy must always be born and reborn. The second recommendation is much more difficult.
Be perfect: We know our faults and our limits, but the Lord who has called us is perfect and he knows everything, even that which appears to be evil, for it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately guides the Church. He knows how to inspire our thoughts, words and actions as we say in prayer: agimus tibi gratias. Then he tells us:
Take heart: We are not a Church in danger of extinction or anything like that. Neither is the family, though it is threatened and must fight. Nor have we come here to mourn or to lament difficulties. Psalm 26 tells us: Be brave, take heart. Hope in the Lord (Ps 26:14).
Have within you, the same spirit: We all seek the unity that comes through dialogue, not from ideas that must be defended at all costs. Saint Paul reminds us: Have the same mind as Christ (Phil 2:5).
Live in peace: And as we hear in Evangelii Gaudium (EG 238) dialogue contributes to peace, for the Church proclaims the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15). Proclaiming Jesus Christ, who is peace personified (cf Eph 2:14), our Mother, the Church encourages us to be instruments of peace and credible witnesses of a life that has been reconciled (Proposition 14). Now is the time for us to design a culture capable of favouring dialogue as a means of encountering the search for consensus and agreement. We have no need for work that advances little by little, or a minor illustration or witness that appeases a collective sentiment.
To love one another, let us begin the Synod in peace. Not the peace offered by the world, made up of compromises and commitments which many times are not fulfilled. This is the peace of Christ, the peace within ourselves.
And the conclusion is clear: The God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor 3:11). Therefore we can say: Stay with us Lord (Lk 24:13). not because the day is ending, but rather because it is beginning.
A new day for the families of the world, believers or non-believers, families who are tired of uncertainties and doubts sown by various ideologies, such as destruction, cultural and social contradictions, fragility and solidarity with others. Stay with us Lord, so that this Synod may point out a path of joy and hope for all families.
The morning began with the chanting of the liturgical Hour of Terce (mid-morning Prayer). During the liturgy, the following homily was offered by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodriíguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa (Honduras).
Homily offered by Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga
during the chanting of mid-morning prayer
We begin this Synod with great joy. This is a path that began two years ago and which fills us with joy as we meet once again with our brothers, as we have just heard.
Brothers: who come from the four corners of the world, summoned here by Peter, moved by the love of the Lord Jesus and of our Mother, the Church. Saint Paul invites us especially to joy - the joy of the gospel which Pope Francis tirelessly proclaims to all the world. However, as he himself has told us: The greatest risk in the world today, with all its many and overflowing supplies offered for our consumption, is an individual sorrow which springs from the comfortable and greedy heart, the sickening search for superficial pleasures, from an isolated consciousness. At times, we are saddened to hear how the world has forces this Synod into thinking that we come like two opposing bandits who are defending established positions. To be with Jesus Christ, joy must always be born and reborn. The second recommendation is much more difficult.
Be perfect: We know our faults and our limits, but the Lord who has called us is perfect and he knows everything, even that which appears to be evil, for it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately guides the Church. He knows how to inspire our thoughts, words and actions as we say in prayer: agimus tibi gratias. Then he tells us:
Take heart: We are not a Church in danger of extinction or anything like that. Neither is the family, though it is threatened and must fight. Nor have we come here to mourn or to lament difficulties. Psalm 26 tells us: Be brave, take heart. Hope in the Lord (Ps 26:14).
Have within you, the same spirit: We all seek the unity that comes through dialogue, not from ideas that must be defended at all costs. Saint Paul reminds us: Have the same mind as Christ (Phil 2:5).
Live in peace: And as we hear in Evangelii Gaudium (EG 238) dialogue contributes to peace, for the Church proclaims the gospel of peace (Eph 6:15). Proclaiming Jesus Christ, who is peace personified (cf Eph 2:14), our Mother, the Church encourages us to be instruments of peace and credible witnesses of a life that has been reconciled (Proposition 14). Now is the time for us to design a culture capable of favouring dialogue as a means of encountering the search for consensus and agreement. We have no need for work that advances little by little, or a minor illustration or witness that appeases a collective sentiment.
To love one another, let us begin the Synod in peace. Not the peace offered by the world, made up of compromises and commitments which many times are not fulfilled. This is the peace of Christ, the peace within ourselves.
And the conclusion is clear: The God of love and peace will be with you (2 Cor 3:11). Therefore we can say: Stay with us Lord (Lk 24:13). not because the day is ending, but rather because it is beginning.
A new day for the families of the world, believers or non-believers, families who are tired of uncertainties and doubts sown by various ideologies, such as destruction, cultural and social contradictions, fragility and solidarity with others. Stay with us Lord, so that this Synod may point out a path of joy and hope for all families.
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