Cardinal David Urges Asian Synod Teams to “See Greater Things” through Three Movements of Conversion

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, Chairman of the FABC Commission for Synodality, urged members of National Synod Teams from across Asia to allow the synodal process to transform not only Church structures and pastoral practices but also the way they see, listen and accompany others.

Speaking during an hour-long spiritual conference at St. Michael Chapel, Baan Phu Waan, Samparan, Thailand, on September 1, Cardinal David reflected on three movements of conversion emerging from the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), held in Jakarta in July.

The conference followed an orientation talk by Fr. Clarence Devadass for participants attending the meeting of National Synod Teams.

Cardinal David based his reflection on the encounter between Jesus and Nathanael in the first chapter of John’s Gospel. Nathanael asks, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Jesus, however, responds by recognizing something good in him: “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”

For Cardinal David, the encounter offers a framework for understanding synodal conversion in Asia.

The first movement is from prejudices and preconceptions to learning to see as Jesus sees. Nathanael forms an opinion about Jesus before meeting him. Similarly, people can judge others before genuinely encountering them.

Jesus does not begin with Nathanael’s prejudice but with his possibility, seeing beyond the dismissive remark to the genuine seeker beneath it.

Cardinal David invited participants to ask whether they can recognize grace in people with whom they disagree, perceive the Spirit beyond their usual circles and listen to people whom society considers insignificant.

The second movement is from walking ahead of others to learning to walk with them.

Cardinal David challenged traditional images of Church leadership. Rather than leaders simply knowing where others should go, synodality calls for leaders who walk with the People of God.

Those entrusted with responsibility may assume that their role is to provide answers. Synodality instead asks leaders to create conditions in which the People of God can listen together for an answer that no individual possesses alone.

This requires humility. Cardinal David linked this approach to Conversation in the Spirit, whose purpose is not merely to make meetings peaceful or efficient but to cultivate spiritual openness.

The third movement is from doing great things for God to seeing the greater things God is already doing.

Church workers can become preoccupied with programs, structures, pastoral plans and initiatives. Yet Jesus tells Nathanael, “You will see greater things than these.”

Cardinal David said the challenge is to develop eyes capable of recognizing God’s action already taking place. The Church does not always have to bring God somewhere; sometimes it must discover that God has already arrived there.

He connected this insight with Jacob’s experience at Bethel: “Surely the Lord is in this place and I did not know it!”

Cardinal David also connected the three conversions with the FABC’s vision of the Church in Asia as a bridge-builder. A bridge exists so that others can cross, and the Church cannot build bridges unless it first becomes a bridge itself.

For National Synod Teams, this means helping bishops and the People of God encounter one another through genuine listening, helping clergy and laity move from suspicion toward co-responsibility and creating spaces where women, young people, the poor and marginalized are genuinely heard.

In Asia’s religiously plural societies, he said, Christians are also called to encounter Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and other religious neighbors not merely as objects of mission but as fellow pilgrims sharing the joys and wounds of common humanity.

Cardinal David emphasized that the real fruit of synodality is conversion.

“Before we speak, we listen. Before we teach, we learn. Before we lead, we accompany. Before we ask others to change, we allow ourselves to be converted,” he said.

He concluded by inviting National Synod Teams to return to their local Churches with “new eyes,” recognizing people they may have prematurely judged, the quiet movements of the Spirit and bridges where they once saw boundaries.