The Kingdom of Heaven and the Upcoming Synod
Anthony Mikovsky, the primate bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church, encouraged the members of the Church to regard Christ as the priceless treasure worth putting all other considerations aside in preparation for the upcoming Holy Synod.
In his writing published on July 27, Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky drew a parallel between the parables found in the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and the upcoming synod of the Polish National Catholic Church.
The primate bishop reminded that Jesus did not tell the parables about the kingdom of heaven merely as thought-provoking stories. The parables always call a person to decision and action: to increasingly align their thinking and life with the will of God.
Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky particularly highlighted the parables of the hidden treasure in the field and the pearl of great price. In both stories, someone finds extraordinary value and then sells everything to obtain it. According to Christian tradition, this priceless treasure is Christ himself, and the salvation proclaimed in the gospel.
According to the primate bishop, the most important task of the synod will also be to seek ways by which the members of the Church can come closer to Christ in their daily lives.
During the consultation, they will also evaluate the goals set by previous synods:
- the growth of communities and strengthening of membership;
- the deepening of spiritual life;
- lifelong learning;
- support for priestly and church vocations;
- strengthening social presence and community involvement.
Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky emphasized that the synod must not only continue the work already begun but also be open to new and unforeseen opportunities. Important tasks will include, among others, the election of bishop candidates, but new initiatives may also arise in other areas.
The primate bishop also referred to Jesus’ saying that the scribe who is well-versed in the teachings of the kingdom of heaven is like a master who brings out new and old treasures from his storeroom.
In Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky’s interpretation, the “old” is the Church’s faith and tradition passed down through centuries. This must be preserved and highly valued, but it is not enough to keep it unchanged. The “new” means making the ancient faith alive in today’s world, in families, parishes, and society.
“We must preserve and cherish our tradition, but we cannot do this in a merely static way. The new is manifested in the ways we live out our ancient faith in today’s world” – the primate bishop stated.
Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky asked the synod delegates, priests, and lay faithful to all participate in the preparation. The faithful should share their thoughts and concerns with their pastors and synod representatives so that the experience and opinion of the entire Church can be reflected in the consultation.
The primate bishop considered prayer and eucharistic life particularly important. He encouraged everyone to regularly attend Mass, pray for the synod delegates, and ask God that the consultation truly serve the unity of the Church, spiritual renewal, and the building of the kingdom of heaven.
At the end of his writing, Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky asked the faithful:
“Pray that the synod will promote the building of the kingdom of heaven among us.”
Service in the national committees
The primate bishop also drew attention to the fact that members of the Polish National Catholic Church can still apply to the Church’s national committees. Although some bodies consist primarily of priests or persons with professional expertise, there are many opportunities for lay faithful as well.
The committees deal, among other things, with constitutional matters, mission and evangelization, finances, liturgy, church teaching, priestly vocations, youth ministry, as well as preserving the Church’s history and archival heritage.
According to Primate Bishop Anthony Mikovsky, everyone’s knowledge, experience, and willingness to serve are needed so that the Church faithfully preserves its heritage while also finding new ways to proclaim Christ’s gospel.
