If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand . . . “

Mark 3: 20-35

 

I read these words in a magazine some time ago:

The dynamic of making music – from a renowned Conductor:
“A symphony orchestra is an amazing organism: so many different instruments and musicians playing together to create a single work of music.

 

“The aim of the orchestra is not to win; the aim is to make sure that every voice is heard. If both the trumpet and the viola are going to be heard, the trumpet has to listen to the viola because the trumpet is much louder than the viola. This requires great discipline.
An orchestra is a conversation about we.

 

We need to understand that we all need to flourish in order for all of us to grow. That’s the symphony orchestra model. And that model can only be built by intelligent optimists who master the art of possibility for themselves and for everyone around them.”

 

[Conductor Benjamin Zander. The Optimist, September/October 2012.]

Sometimes a Parish acts out of an individualist model and not out of the compassionate, community spirit of the Gospel we profess.
We pray and fast and volunteer and carry out good works, and feel good about ourselves.

 

Without fail, the “Parish” we build collapses when conflict and division surface; the “symphony” we try to orchestrate from our individual wants and interests disintegrates into a noisy tangle of out-of-sync instruments.

 

If a parish is to stand, it must be constructed of forgiveness, humility, generosity, synodality – energised by a desire to work together with The Spirit.

 

If we are to play the music that God places in every human heart, we are to welcome and encourage everyone to raise their voices and contribute the sound and skill of their instruments.
Jesus’ life testifies to one powerful reality – the Spirit of God can bring about such a wonderful symphony.

 

 

Let the reconciling and loving Spirit of God be the architect of the “parishes” we seek to create.

We know, The Holy Spirit, the Conductor of Creation’s song, journeys with us every step of the way. 

 

Tony Pires
(Parish Renewal Team)