PROFESSOR ANTHONY AKINWALE WAS UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED BY THE CBCN TO
BE THE SUPPORT THEOLOGIAN FOR THE NIGERIAN DELEGATION TO THE SYNOD ON SYNODALITY IN ROME FROM WHERE HE WRITES THESE REFLECTIONS.
Synodality and Ecumenism
In our quest to be a more synodal Church, it is necessary but insufficient to journey together.
We must differentiate between what is authentic about our journey and what is inauthentic.
An authentically synodal path is an authentically ecumenical path, and an authentically ecumenical path is an authentically synodal path. An authentically ecumenical path is a journey undertaken together towards a common comprehension of apostolic tradition. Merely walking together does not make us synodal. For we may be walking together in the wrong direction.
Our guide must be the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel that Christ is, a Gospel which may be rejected today. The Gospel as handed down to us through the ages is the pillar of fire guiding us through the dark. Without the Gospel we walk into perdition even if we are walking together.
Our journey is authentically synodal and authentically ecumenical if and when we walk together behind Jesus, not walking behind the world. The journey of authentic discipleship will, from time to time, compel us to make choices that are not politically correct, choices and pastoral dispositions that will make some think we are exclusive in our way of life. On this journey undertaken together, we must differentiate between what is compatible with the Gospel and what is not even if it will make us unpopular as a Church.
The synodal path is the path of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Following his way together, having the audacity to say yes to him even if it means saying no to the world is the way of authentic synodality.
The ecumenical path is not a path to political consensus. For it is quite possible to build a consensus around values that are contrary to the Gospel handed down to us from the apostle.
It is another thing to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We cannot embark on the journey expected of us by the Lord if we have opted, even before the journey begins, for an undifferentiated acceptance of the values and behavior of the world. Travelers are brave. The Church of our time must have the bravery to be different even if it is unpopular to do so.
The 1700th anniversary of the Council of Niceae is an opportunity to interrogate ourselves as a Church whether or not we give the faith of Nicae its dues. It is an opportunity to dialogue with all Churches and ecclesial communities on the teachings and implications of Nicae for our time; an opportunity to inquire if we journey by listening to tradition or if, journeying together, we have strayed together. Have we been listening to the Holy Spirit or to
the spirit of the age together? Which spirit is guiding us on this journey: the Holy Spirit or the spirit of the age?
The imperative of ecumenism is the imperative of listening to tradition together. This teaches us that our synodality is not to be reduced to listening to one another. Synodality is a journey with Jesus that obliges us to listen to the word of God, not just the word of contemporary culture.
The two disciples on the way to Emmaus were journeying together but in the wrong direction. They listened to each other as they journeyed together. Yet, they were confused until they listened to Jesus. They were able to retrace their steps because they listened to Jesus together instead of just listening to each other together. They listened to him together before they could recognize him at the breaking of bread.
Anthony Akinwale, OP
