As all of you know, I hope, the Archdiocese is in the middle of "listening sessions" as part of the synod process Archbishop Hebda has set in motion. At those listening sessions various groups in the diocese are asked to provide the volunteers, and this past Saturday the diaconate community was on the hook to volunteer. I had some time, so I volunteered. I had not been to a "listening session" before, and I have to say that I was shocked at how well done everything was. The session was at St. Peter Clavier in St. Paul, and the crowd vastly exceeded everyone's expections. Not to worry-- the organizers, equipped with two-way radios with earpieces, and having scoped out the space well in advance, handled the large group magnificently. The session started with prayer and silence, followed by a talk from Archbishop Hebda, who explained in clear and straightforward terms what the whole point was of a synod. People were asked to pray about and consider three areas where the Church in this diocese did things well, and three areas where we did not. After prayer and reflection, and hopefully the movement of the Holy Spirit (and Archbishop Hebda's talk) the group broke into 6 or 8-person small groups where they had a chance to exchange views on the "doing well" and "not doing well" views that people had. That process started out with a discussion of rules for respectful conversations, since everyone knew that there might be disagreement about the various "doing well" and "not doing well" topics. People were urged to listen to what others were saying, and to try to understand the messages that were being conveyed, and to seek common ground. After that there was a chance for people to talk to the group, and the Archbishop, about their discussions, and their views on the "doing well/not doing well" topics. Archbishop Hebda listened, thanked people for their comments, and sometimes asked the whole group whether what someone had said was a common topic for them. For example, when someone said their group talked about how to get young people involved in the Church, Archbishop Hebda asked for a show of hands of those groups which had a similar discussion. Vistually every hand went up. We're just at the beginning of this process, and we'll see where it goes, but I think there is no doubt that part of the point is to bring us together as a local Church-- to avoid the kind of division that Jesus discusses today (Mk 3: 22-30) when He talks about how a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. As was made clear at the session on Saturday, we won't all agree on what is right and what is wrong with this local Church. Actually, that is just fine. It tells us that we're engaged, that our brains are operating, and that we care about what is going on. We're human after all, and we won't see all things the same way. The issue is whether we can all stay together and support one another as members of the Body of Christ, even if we like or don't like Pope Francis, or like or don't like the Latin Mass, or like or don't like ornate liturgies-- the list goes on. My experience on Saturday tells me that we can-- that we might have our disagreements about particular details of liturgy or worship or doctrine, but that we remain united on the basics. We are not a kingdom divided against itself. And that is a very important fact.