Editorial

Synodality and the sounds of silence

“In a world full of noise, we are no longer accustomed to silence; indeed, sometimes we struggle with it, because silence forces us to face God and ourselves. Yet it lies at the foundation of the Word and of life.” (Pope Francis)

There are moments of silence when people are traveling together that are especially precious. These are the occasions when no small talk, idle chatter or gossip break through. When “heavy” subjects and passionate arguments have been set aside (if only temporarily), and a comfortable silence sets in.

Lovers and good friends know how to be together without constant conversation. People who pray fervently and from the heart long ago realized that talking with God requires attentive listening, which means disengaging from the noise and distractions that prevent us from hearing the “still, small voice” that brings us into direct contact with the Word of God.

Pope Francis has asked the participants in the synod now taking place in Rome to practice silence.

“Silence is essential in the life of the believer,” the pope said. “Indeed, it lies at the beginning and end of Christ’s earthly existence. The Word, the Word of the Father, became ‘silence’ in the manger and on the cross, on the night of the Nativity and on the night of his Passion.” In other words, the most impactful moments in Christian history—the Incarnation and the Resurrection—were anticipated by moments of profound silence.

If the synodal process is to achieve its desired outcome of increased communion and participation in the Church’s mission, we must find significant opportunities for silent reflection on what the Holy Spirit is saying to us today.

“Indeed, silence is important and powerful,” the Holy Father says. “It can express unspeakable sorrow in the face of misfortune, but also, in moments of joy, a gladness that goes beyond words.”

It’s sad, but it probably shouldn’t be surprising, that the pope’s efforts to unite all baptized Christians and to encourage greater participation by all in the Church’s mission are being used to further divide us. The amount of suspicion and negative commentary on the meaning and purpose of this synod is disheartening. Clearly the Evil One is at work sowing doubt and seeking to set Christians against one another.

The stillness of prayerful listening overwhelms the shouting, arguing and chaos of the devil’s many voices. In the quiet of prayer and meditation, we can listen from the heart, so that when it comes time to speak, what we have to say will be cleansed of the vitriolic influences of prejudice and hatred.

Pope Francis insists that, to be authentic, a synod must be free from ideology, which the dictionary defines as “a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.” As long as we are proposing, debating or reacting to competing political theories, we are cut off from the attentive listening that is required to achieve genuine dialogue and mutual understanding.

“There is no place for ideology in the synod,” the Holy Father says. A synod requires “another dynamic. The synod is dialogue between baptized people in the name of the Church, on the life of the Church, on dialogue with the world, on the problems that affect humanity today. But when you think along an ideological path, the synod ends.”

Silence helps to keep the noise and distracting influence of competing ideologies (whether on the right or the left) from overpowering our ability to listen to the Word of God or to each other. The synod is not meant to be “a TV program where everything is talked about.” That’s why Pope Francis has asked that synod participants to refrain from commenting publicly on their discussions. The synod should be a religious experience, he says, “a moment of religious exchange. Without a spirit of prayer, there is no synodality, there is politics, there is parliamentarianism.”

Halfway through this particular synod, it’s clear that the commitment to maintaining silence will never be 100% successful. Still, many participants affirm that the effort to listen attentively and to allow the Holy Spirit to speak is bearing fruit—in spite of all the noisemakers who post negative, often vitriolic, personal attacks and divisive comments on social media.

Let’s observe a moment of silence for all who are participating in this synod. May they be open to hearing God’s Word and taking it to heart.

—Daniel Conway