On the Road to Implementing Synodality...Casting a Net!

Happy 2025, friends!

Ever wonder what it is like to cast a net? Is there a precise way to cast? Does the net flow freely or is its movement orchestrated by the one casting it? What does the net catch?  How does it move through the water? Is it retrieved with a bountiful catch or not? On a recent trip to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, I captured a glimpse of a dock, a pathway, if you will with water surrounding it and I couldn’t help but imagine myself casting a net and wondering what it would bring about.  How does this imagery connect with who we are as Christians and our daily lives in the world today and specifically, who we, as Catholics, are paving the way of implementing the ways to BE a synodal Church? Let’s journey a bit together on this one, shall we?

 In a world filled with varied challenges beckoning sound decision-making, there is a powerful visual surrounding the image of a simple fishing net. A vast multitude of individual spaces (humanity) each with unique gifts, talents, and skills connected (by the woven rope of God) on the journey of life (knowingly or unknowingly) is cast out to meet, listen, and discern how we move forward and grow socially, politically, professionally, personally, educationally, and spiritually. The Good News of the Second Testament tells us, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road..." (Luke 24:13). Imagine the power or the limitless potential of journeying together on that road while listening and experiencing conversations in the Spirit, pausing first without immediately leaping to respond during times of challenge and discernment.

We, as a People of God, live in so many varying contexts, right? Cultures, religions, genders, marital status, political preferences, professional realms, academic rigors, social classes, and the list goes on and on.  Take a glance at what the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality states on this as well,

“Gathered from every tribe, language, people and nation and living in different contexts and cultures, the synodal process gave us the ‘spiritual taste’ (EG 268) of what it means to be the People of God. The People of God is never the simple sum of the Baptized but the communitarian and historical subject of synodality and mission still on pilgrimage through time and already in communion with the Church in heaven. Within the plurality of contexts where the local Churches are rooted, the People of God proclaim and bear witness to the Good News of salvation. Being in the world and for the world, they walk together with all the peoples of the earth, in dialogue with their religions and their cultures, recognizing in them the seeds of the Word, journeying towards the Kingdom. Incorporated into the People of God by faith and Baptism, we are sustained and accompanied by the Virgin Mary, ‘a sign of sure hope and comfort’ (LG 68), by the Apostles, by those who bore witness to their faith to the point of giving their lives, and by the saints of every time and place (#17).”

We encounter so many varied walks of life, yet we are so connected as creations of God, all with stories to share, and so much to learn from one another.  There is a reason why we are individually connected “cells” of the net.  God purposefully designed it that way.  Therefore, it just makes good, sound sense that the individual walks of life, the local parishes and communities, are rooted and needing dialogue so that we all may walk together with one another and recognize the gifts, talents, the needs, the blessings of one another.  This is what shapes and forms Church.  This is how we move and spark positive difference-making in the world. 

So how then do we cast the proverbial net, you may be asking?  Well, guess what? You jump right in a have a genuine, good ol’ conversation with folks.  It does not have to be long, drawn out, and messy (or maybe it can and that is ok too).  It could be a simple cup of coffee or glass of wine shared with one another, and you casually talk about what fills your heart and what breaks your heart about the Church, the People of God.  The difference is that there is an INTENTIONAL listening taking place on both sides.  We are not speaking to respond, but rather we are pausing and listening to one another so that one may be heard in their entirety.  And I have one better for you…you can have these types of conversations surrounding just about any aspects of daily life with one another.  These are the types of conversations that families have together in their homes, at the dinner table, on game night, at social gatherings, etc. This is a reminder of who we are as a People of God…we are truly a connected local and global community with family traits.

So why not just cast the net? Do not be afraid to do so.  What’s the worst that could happen?  Your net comes back empty?  Maybe, maybe not.  Odds are that the casted-net of conversation will produce some healthy “fruits”.  Opportunities to share experiences, stories, reminisce, learn from others, laugh, shed a tear, celebrate, encourage, and simply BE together.  You see friends, that is how we can then BE Church in the world and journey with and for others.  We must first start with a small casting of the net and then take what we gain and bring it forth so that we may serve others accordingly.  One small conversation can lead to great things.  For this is how we implement synodality…one step, one conversation, one net cast at a time. 

In our Church’s current Jubilee Year of 2025, I remain hopeful that this piece has brought you some hope, some encouragement, some motivation to move together, to journey onward, and to cast your nets one dream, one vision, one prompting of the Spirit at a time. 

Peace & joy to each of you!