We’re pleased to bring you Sparks of Inspiration, a new monthly series where Fr. Gregory will share a book recommendation that sparks curiosity, reflection, or just makes for a great read! Each month, he’ll choose a book, provide a short excerpt, and offer a brief explanation on why he thinks it’s an interesting and valuable read.

Whether you’re looking to deepen your faith, expand your horizons, or simply enjoy a good book, Sparks of Inspiration is here to guide you. Check out the first recommendation below, and let’s journey through these inspiring reads together!

Got a book suggestion or something you’d love to see featured? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Listening Together. Meditations on Synodality
Timothy Radcliffe
Liturgical Press, 2024
Collegeville, Minnesota
Litpress.org

Pages 3-5

This is the complete collection of conference talks from Timothy Radcliffe OP. Pope Francis appointed him retreat master for the historic October 2023 General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality. Radcliffe’s words, originally shaping the synod, now invite readers to reflect on this shared journey. Through engaging prose, he addresses themes like conflicting hopes, unity, friendship, and the importance of listening, discernment, and mission in fostering a synodal Church. He also highlights a specific Dominican experience as an example of synodality in practice.

Fr Greg

From the Conference One: “Hoping against hope”:

When the Holy Father asked me to give this retreat, I felt enormously honoured but nervous. I am deeply aware of my personal limitations. I am old— white—a Westerner-and a man! I don't know which is worse! All of these aspects of my identity limit my understanding. So I ask for your forgiveness for the inadequacy of my words.

We are all radically incomplete and need each other. Karl Barth, the great Protestant theologian, wrote of the Catholic "both/and." For example, Scripture and Tradition, faith and works. He is said to have called it "that damned Catholic 'and'"-"das verdammte katholische "Und." So I pray that when we listen to each other during the coming weeks and disagree, we shall often say, "Yes, and..." rather than "No!" That is the synodal way. Of course, "no" is also sometimes necessary!

In the second reading at Mass today, St. Paul says to the Philippians: "[M]ake my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil 2:2). We are gathered here because we are not united in heart and mind. The vast majority of people who have taken part in the synodal process have been surprised by joy. For many, it is the first time that the Church has invited them to speak of their faith and hope. But some of us are afraid of this journey and of what lies ahead. Some hope that the Church will be dramatically changed, that we shall take radical decisions, for example, about the role of women in the Church. Others are afraid of exactly these same changes and fear that they will only lead to division, even schism. Some of you would prefer not to be here at all. A bishop told me that he prayed not to be chosen to come here. His prayer was granted! You may be like the son in today's gospel who at first does not want to go to the vineyard, but he goes!

At crucial moments in the gospels, we always hear these words: "Do not be afraid. St. John tells us, "[P]erfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). So let us begin by praying that the Lord will free our hearts from fear. For some, this is the fear of change and for others the fear that nothing will change. But "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"

Of course, we all have fears, but Aquinas taught us that courage is refusing to be enslaved by fear. May we always be sensitive to the fears of others, especially those with whom we disagree. Like Abraham, we leave not knowing where we are going (see Heb 11:8). But if we free our hearts of fear, it will be wonderful beyond our imagination.

To guide us during this retreat, we shall meditate on the transfiguration. This was the retreat Jesus gave to his closest disciples before they embarked on the first synod in the life of the Church, when they walked together (syn-hodos) to Jerusalem. This retreat was needed because they were afraid of the journey they had to make together. Until now they had wandered around the north of Israel. But at Caesarea Philippi, Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ. Then Jesus invited them to go with him to Je-rusalem, where he would suffer, die, and be raised from the dead. They could not accept this. Peter tried to prevent him. Jesus called him "Satan," "enemy." The little community was paralysed. So Jesus took them up the mountain. (…)