In the Lord’s Prayer, there are inferences that we make as an indication of our being in union with one another. We rightly pray; “our Father, who art in heaven…/ Give us this day our daily bread/And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us/And
lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil… As we recite this prayer, we do so in unison; as a reminder that we are on a journey,
not alone but as a united people. This prayer re-echoes what the Holy Pontiff, Pope Francis calls each and everyone of us to do during the 16 th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops themed: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.
The Pope resounds that: “every one of the baptized should feel involved in the ecclesial and social change that we so greatly need. This change calls for a personal and communal conversion that makes us see things as the Lord does.” In this synod, the Holy Father emphasizes on the
inclusion of the entire people of God, journeying together. Such is the call Sr. Dominic Dipio MSMMC makes in this issue, to integrate the woman into the Synodal Church.
The Holy Father proposes that as we make this synodal journey, we should be able to contemplate like the disciples on Mount Tabor as they contemplate Jesus transfigured. As the voice beckons the disciples to “Listen to him” (Mt 17:5), so we are called upon to listen to Jesus, and more so, listen to our brothers and sisters in the Church. We have been on a journey, one that has lasted 40 days and we continue counting. Yes,
we continue counting because as we come out of the desert, nothing has ended, but we are better equipped with the Holy Spirit and benefit from our Lenten graces on how best to handle our lack and desires in this world.
This and more is what Fr. Nicholas Onyait MCCJ explains in our cover story; that Lent is a journey into the desert for empowerment by the spirit of the Lord such that we may master our passion through fasting, alms giving and prayer; and thus conquer the evil that often entangles us. Easter therefore becomes for us a time to pause, reflect and detach ourselves from all worldly treasures that hamper us from attaining salvation.
Pope Francis expounds on this explaining that Lent leads to Easter: the “retreat” is not an end in itself but a means of preparing us to experience the Lord’s passion and cross with faith, hope and love. Thus to arrive at the resurrection.
We pray with the Holy Father that the Holy Spirit may inspire and sustain us in our ascent with Jesus, so that we may experience his divine splendour and thus, confirmed in faith, persevere in our journey together with him, glory of his people and light of the nations. May the grace we have experienced strengthen us to be “artisans of synodality” in the ordinary life of our communities and indeed, we shall all rejoice, for Christ is risen today and forever.
© 2022 Leadership Magazine.