Synodality in the Vineyard

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Whenever I go by a vineyard in the Shenandoah Valley or in far Southwest Virginia, or I imagine what it must be like in vineyards in the Jordan Valley, in Europe, South America, or Australia, I will never truly grasp the magnitude of establishing such a livelihood and producing such a quality product whether for sheer love of the craft primarily or to put food on the table. But we can feel the urgency in the landowner’s efforts to hire anyone available at all hours of the day in a frenzy to get the crop in likely ahead of some weather-related emergency or a shortage of workers in a small window of an extremely busy harvest season. And facing enormous odds, the inexperienced employer might overlook details causing preventable complications in the hiring process. But with their accountants riding alongside them, they will be carefully crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s. It was a much simpler time then: a day’s pay for whatever work is done. (And then there’s FICA.) Besides, unskilled labor is usually much easier to find.

But we know parables are not actual recorded historical events. The landowner is not a landowner, and the vineyard is not a vineyard. Jesus’ listeners were familiar with the agricultural parallels. The landowner is God. The vineyard is the world. The harvest is the transforming work of justice and mercy, of peace and reconciliation, of charity and service to all in need. The laborers are those whom God calls to partner with him in gathering the harvest. And a day’s wage is a place at table in the eternal wedding feast. Just keep those references in mind for the next few minutes.

So, the point of the parable was not whether the landowner acted fairly. In fact, he paid them a fair wage as previously agreed upon. Now some of them believed they deserved to be paid more. But the landowner is not a landowner. And the vineyard is not a vineyard. And the issue of fairness the laborers were complaining about is moot because when God grants to a faithful disciple a seat at the eternal wedding feast, it is a free gift entirely and not something we earned. God owes us nothing. Full stop. And there is no appeals process if you’re convinced you deserve more than what God gives.

And hearing some people’s expectations reported in the news these last few months about the 16^th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops convening in a week and a half in Rome, I fear there are quite a few gaps in our understanding of what the Synod sets out to accomplish. Before the 14^th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in 2015, more popularly known as the Synod on the Family, the Holy Father invited participation from people in the pews all around the world on some very challenging issues. Questionnaires were made available in print and online. Now I was in another parish of 800 families, and we collected about 30 responses. Anecdotally, I heard varying reactions to the consultation process. “What’s the point? They’ve never asked my opinion before. They don’t really want to hear what I have to say. You think anything is ever going to change? I just do what I want anyway. Tell them to leave me alone.” It reminds me of certain households after a grown-up asks, “Any thoughts on dinner? A movie? Winter break? A summer job? College? The rest of your life?”

But it wasn’t a complete waste of time either. The synod happened as scheduled. Those who contributed ideas were heard. Nothing resulted particularly earth-shattering or tragic. But the needle moved ever so slightly in the direction of synodality, a new way of listening to each other and listening to the Holy Spirit. Nobody called it that. But we are learning a different way of being church, a new way that the bishops of the world tried to show us in Vatican Council II some 60 years ago. It’s only taken us that long to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. And ever since, forces outside and inside the church adamantly oppose it and want to derail it. And they have yelled and screamed and denounced the Pope and the synod while claiming God sent them to do just that.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us in the first reading. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near. … For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” The vineyard is the world. And God desires to gather in the harvest, which is the transforming work of justice and mercy, of peace and reconciliation, of charity and service to all in need. We are laborers whom God calls to be his partners in gathering the harvest. The concerns that more often cause heated debate have little to do with gathering the harvest. In the synod preparatory document, its stated purpose is “not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.” Why anyone would object to any of that is a mystery. St. Paul writing to the Philippians ends the second reading with great advice, “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

Recently we held two parish townhall meetings inviting God’s people here at St. Therese to share your ideas on our life together. Attendance could have been better. But there will never be a perfect time for everyone. So, I am grateful to all who were able to join us. We also received 71 completed response forms over a 2-week period. Most were from individuals, some from couples, some from families. Parish council and I have been going over them. And we will be discussing some ideas in the meetings ahead. Now I know St. Therese has over 800 registered families. Maybe you still plan to send yours in. Nevertheless, I am grateful to those who participated for your input.

The first question asked you to tell me what you love about the parish. Most had wonderful things to say. And a handful left the question blank. The next two questions received the most answers: what we could improve, and what new things we could try. Some things can be implemented without further discussion. All we need are materials and muscle. If you can provide either or both, let me know. Other things require more clarification and consideration. And still others belong to people higher up to decide. Pope Francis reminds us, this process of listening and discerning is meant to be for us a way of life, how we discover the will of God and how we engage with one another.

Our top priority is the harvest that God sends us to gather out in the world, with special focus on the Church of St. Therese. Most other things are not up to us. But since synodality is meant to be for us a way of life, it doesn’t end with the synod. The harvest is under way, and we are partners with God. It is God’s work first. But it is also to be our way of life. “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.”