Lex Anteinternet: Ezekiel and the Synod on Synodality.

Lex Anteinternet: Ezekiel and the Synod on Synodality.: 

Ezekiel and the Synod on Synodality.

Icon of Ezekiel.

This was written over a period of time, and posted prior to this past Sunday:

Lex Anteinternet: Dread and the Synod on Synodality.: This has, I guess, turned into a post on the Synod on Synodality. The Synod on Synodality is a three-year process of listening and dialogue ...

The first reading, this past Sunday, was this one:

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 127

Reading 1

Ez 33:7-9

Thus says the LORD:

You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel;

when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.

If I tell the wicked, "O wicked one, you shall surely die, "

and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way,

the wicked shall die for his guilt,

but I will hold you responsible for his death.

But if you warn the wicked,

trying to turn him from his way,

and he refuses to turn from his way,

he shall die for his guilt,

but you shall save yourself.

The principal Gospel reading was this one:

Jesus said to his disciples:

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that 'every fact may be established on the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church. If he refuses to listen even to the church, then treat him as you would a Gentile or a tax collector.

Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

As previously noted, the young parish priest delivered his homily on the first reading.

Canon lawyer Edward Peters, having reflected on the same reading, noted on his Twitter feed:

Edward Peters

@canonlaw

·

19h

I am edified to think back on how many priests have told me that today’s first reading keeps them awake at night. I am saddened that I can’t recall there being more such clerics. To say nothing of bishops, of course. And, yes, I include parents among those warned by this passage.

The priests' homily was, as usual, a little blunt, warning us that as a priestly people, we were bound by Ezechial's charge ourselves, an uncomfortable thought, but that's not why I noted it here.

Rather, I note it as while the upcoming Synod will not, I'm certain, radically refine any doctrine, it could create confusion in an era when we have plenty of that already and give comfort, through the voices of progressives in the Church who would suspend the Gospel's difficult parts, to those who would not bear their crosses.  Plenty of that is going on already, with a well funded German church angling to adopt a modern view of personal sin to some degree, rather than the more difficult, but more natural one, that St. Paul sets out.

Vatican II opened with the following prayer:

Almighty God, we have no confidence in our own strength; all our trust is in you. Graciously look down on these Pastors of your Church. Aid their counsels and their legislation with the light of your divine grace. Be pleased to hear the prayers we offer you, united in faith, in voice, in mind.

Mary, help of Christians, help of bishops; recently in your church at Loreto, where We venerated the mystery of the Incarnation, you gave us a special token of your love. Prosper now this work of ours, and by your kindly aid bring it to a happy, successful conclusion. And do you, with St. Joseph your spouse, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, intercede for us before the throne of God.

To Jesus Christ, our most loving Redeemer, the immortal King of all peoples and all ages, be love, power and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Perhaps the Synod, each day, should open with Ezekiel.