I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance. These words of St. Paul are a chilling reminder that we can do horrific things if we act “out of ignorance.” Of course, the problem is that ignorance implies that you don’t know what you don’t know. I can do harmful things simply because I don’t know any better. It is to cure such ignorance that Pope Francis called upon the church to become “synodal.” When we all sit down together, listen to one another, learn about others’ experience, understand what they are going through, realize how our actions (despite our good intentions) cause others distress, check out the meaning behind others’ actions toward us, seek clarity about the words others are using, explain how past experiences have shaped my understanding of the world, we are on the way to eliminating harmful ignorance. Then we all together will feel the abundant grace of Christ showered upon us.
