‘Rather than listening, too many in our world have perfected the art of being deaf…’

From Bridgeport’s Bishop Frank Caggiano, writing on Facebook yesterday. He is taking part in the Synod now unfolding in Rome:

I am grateful to everyone who submitted suggested advice for the Synod Fathers. I am grateful for the many responses that you sent in and have begun to review them carefully. I hope to bring many of your insights into the small group discussions scheduled in the next ten days.

Your large number of suggestions illustrate the deep desire for all people, especially young adults, to be heard and to have their thoughts taken seriously. This desire is one of the fundamental insights being explored at the Synod. It is a deep desire of every human heart.

The art of listening is a delicate one, in part because the world in which we live does not understand it correctly. For too many, “listening” has degenerated into the time you need, while someone else is speaking, to prepare the points you wish to make, regardless of what is being said to you. Rather than listening, too many in our world have perfected the art of being deaf.

During my days here at the Synod, I have come to realize that the importance of listening rests on a more basic, fundamental principle. It is the choice to value the person before me as my equal partner. In other words, if I am willing to listen to you, I am also affirming your worth and value. If I am willing to spend time listening to you, I am also saying that I love you enough to give you my time, my energy and my attention. When we listen to each other, we may not always agree with one another. As a mentor to young people, disagreements often occur. However, we must always value one another, despite our agreements or disagreements. Thus, the fundamental principal that supports listening is that of love. If I listen to you, then I am also loving you.

Perhaps it is answering this cry to be valued and loved, coming from our young people and young adults, that may be the lasting contribution of the Synod. It is certainly now at the center of my reflections and my prayer.

Words for all of us, here and now. Amen.