with a nod and a wink

Jul 28, 2024

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A central priority of the synodality emphasis in the church is the focus on listening. The inspiring description “a journey in listening” is often used as a sub-title in official synodal documents.

This journey is an exciting adventure for the people of God. It’s not a new direction but rather a return to the modus operandi which has enabled and heralded every experience of true renewal in the Christian community, often through the people we today venerate as saints.

Too often in the past four centuries (since the organising Council of Trent in the mid 1500’s) the church has endeavoured to become more coordinated and standardised with structures and efficiency often covering insecurity and camouflaging imperfections, even at times hiding evil.

Of course wherever people gather there will always be (and need to be) structures and institutions seeking good management and working for unity. Not a bad thing. Perhaps it’s helpful to think of an institution as the skeleton for a mission.

A skeleton is essential in a body, but a skeleton without flesh and heart and brain is not a living body.

When we see the Church primarily as organisation and institution, the subtle and often irrational nudges of the Holy Spirit are easily overlooked. When this happens the life-giving voice of the church comes across to many good people as a rattle of bones rather than as a voice of hope and a tender-flesh embrace of love. The image of Ezekiel’s valley of rattling dry bones comes to mind – Ezekiel 37.

I have noticed this in these sabbatical months often in my reading, in conversations, and overwhelmingly in the Fifth Gospel Project which will be published later this year, many contributors are for the first time giving voice to their experience even surprising themselves as they validate the personal and intimate voice of Jesus for them and for the church.

And then I notice something I’ve never noticed before in today’s gospel of the feeding of the multitude.

The young disciple Andrew had a thought. Event organisers and catering companies would have considered it to be a stupid suggestion and Andrew probably hesitated to speak his idea. But he recognised that things were a bit desperate and was prepared to offer his illogical and even silly idea. Perhaps he noticed a wink and nod with a smile from Jesus, and with this encouragement he had the nudge he needed.

Of course Andrew’s younger brother Simon Peter (who was perhaps more of an institutional thinker) was about to take the microphone and explain to the crowds (on behalf of the other disciples) that it was now getting dark, there was nowhere to buy food, and they should all head home.

But Andrew spoke up: “There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish.” He then continued, as if to preempt and silence the inevitable negative voices: “but what is that between so many?”

We all know the rest!

And it all began with a young guy, with an irrational thought and the courage to voice it, and an even younger lad who was prepared to listen and step up offering his little lunch.

 

4 Comments

  1. A nod and a wink! How I wish this was the reaction from our church instead of the frown and stare that is so often felt!
    Blessings to you on this last week’s of your Sabbatical, I am sure the fruits will be plentiful.

    Reply
    • Sorry about the incorrect apostrophe! Autospell took over!!!!

      Reply
      • It can’t get better than that

        Reply
    • So true m, Jane, the frown and stare, the negative response rather than a yes, let’s do this in feeding the 5000, meeting the needs of our people, the wider community and the world with hospitality food and drink, a listening ear, and manaakitanga (care) – we hope for so much… but when so many in our communities haven’t even heard about becoming a synodal church yet… but our hope is in the Spirit, a Spirit Unbounded who will surprise us!

      Reply

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