A GUIDE ON DISCERNMENT BY SR LAURETTA BAKER

In report 2020 Plenary Council – Let’s Listen and Discern for Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Discernment
Listening with the ear of the heart

Ten Theological Principles were developed as part of the 1992/93 Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Synod. These Theological Principles continue to provide our understanding of who we are as the people of God in this time and place.

The eighth principle is Decision-making by Discernment.

In keeping with what it means to be and to build Church, we seek to arrive at decisions which all can accept gracefully and support wholeheartedly (even if some wish the decision had been different) because they know the group honestly searched together for the Spirit of God in and for the life of the community.

Discernment of the Spirit … listens to others so as to learn, is sensitive to all approaches, encourages collaboration rather than competition and aims not at majority vote but consensus. It recognises that each participant has a part of the truth and a share of the wisdom by reason of each one’s unique experience of God in life, union with Christ and gifts of the Spirit. The process also recognises the right of each person to contribute his or her part without which the whole picture will not be presented and the whole wisdom of the spirit will not be available. (Archbishop F Carroll, Canberra-Goulburn Synod, 1989)

Personal Discernment
A Practical Guide

Jesus said to the disciples,
“If you love me and obey the command I give you,
I will ask the One who sent me to give you another Advocate
to be with you always — the Spirit of Truth… who abides with you
and will be in you. (Jn.14:15-17).

The life of discipleship is, in essence, life in the Spirit “as sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ”¹. As we try to live this discipleship, we find ourselves engaged in making choices, both in the circumstances of every day and at crucial turning points of life. These choices give shape and direction to our lives.² Discernment offers us one way of making choices – in a context of prayer and a life orientation towards God This means consciously tuning into the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth who lives within each one of us. It means using our best human abilities to think and reflect; to analyse and critique; to look at the ‘big picture’ of one’s life, one’s family, one’s commitments, one’s health, etc. all the while listening to the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit within one’s heart. Discernment takes time, energy and stamina. It is not for the faint hearted!

 

¹Walter Principe. Towards Defining Spirituality Studies in Religion.vol.12, no.2, pp127-141.
²David Lonsdale. Listening to the Music of the Spirit. Darton, Longman & Todd. London.1992.p19

A simple, step-by-step guide to personal discernment follows:

• Come to quiet; still your mind and try to put aside the busy-ness of the day g. take a couple of deep, rhythmic breaths or repeat a one or two word prayer and let it drift off into silence.
• Rest in the silence for a few moments
• Be aware that God’s Spirit is within you and simply, in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen and discern what God calls you to do and be.
• Identify clearly what is the question/matter/choice before you — what does God want of me here? What is the choice before me?
• Watch and see what arises in your heart — thoughts, feelings, further questions etc.
• Ask yourself where are those thoughts and feelings coming from — e.g. your own experiences, someone else’s influence, some personal fear, hesitation, uncertainty, anxiety etc.
• Be aware of any pre-conceived views, prejudices and/or biases you may be holding.
• Listen calmly to what’s happening within you. You have the moment of grace within you. Just be attentive to the thoughts and feelings that rise within you.
• Notice where you don’t understand; where you are feeling unsure and/or confused. What questions are triggered in you?
• Begin to sort out your feelings, thoughts, images, scenarios, consequences, questions e.g. are they coming from God, from self, from others, from other influences? Sometimes it helps to write a little.
• Recall the situation/matter you are discerning, in terms of choice, what are you being drawn to? Sometimes it helps to think about ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ g. make two columns; in the pro column, list as many reasons that come to mind for your potential choice. In the con column. List reasons against proceeding in that direction.
• Reflect on each list in turn, beginning with the As you think of other pros and cons. Add them to their respective lists.
• Notice how the situation/matter appears in the light of your reflection.
• Begin to assess your options thus:
• What course of action flowed most freely?
• Which one excited you the most?
• Which seemed ‘right’ to you?
• Renew your desire to follow God’s call.
• Make your decision.
• Now hold your tentative decision together with your desire to follow God’s call. Notice what happens.
• How does the decision feel to you? If you are feeling at peace, at ease, refreshed within yourself or even, if you sense some initial unease that, in a little while softens, you can be fairly sure that you are moving beyond yourself and listening to God within you.
• If you are not yet ready to make even a tentative decision, be at peace; let your response evolve over time. No need to rush to a conclusion. You may need more information; you may need more time for prayer and/or silence. You’ll know! The response is usually already in your heart. The question here is what God wants me to do!
• When you are done, make a simple prayer of gratitude to God and be at peace. We know that “all things work together unto good for those who love God” (Rom.8:28)

Group Discernment
A Practical Guide

“Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there among them” (Mt.18:20).

Group or communal discernment transfers to a group setting the method of personal discernment outlined previously. So, the explicit purpose of group discernment and therefore, the group’s primary focus of attention is to find ‘the will of God’, to discover and follow where God’s Holy Spirit is leading the group. In today’s church and world, there are often occasions when a systematic process of group discernment is needed, a process which a group can use and adapt to its own circumstances.

The process of genuine group discernment is characterised by a few definite features:

1. Each member believes that God’s Holy Spirit is present and active in every other member and they commit to search for what God is saying through each person.
2. Each comes with open mind and heart, ready to listen without judgment, to hold ideas lightly, and to receive others’ views respectfully.
3. There is a considerable level of trust within the group, which allows people to speak freely, openly and honestly and to share their insights and gifts generously.
4. Each person has the opportunity to state clearly what s/he wishes to say both for and against all the options in question.
5. Members share faith, listen more than speak, and let go of their own agendas.
6. They stop judging and preparing arguments in their heads.
7. At times they sit in silent prayer together.
8. Members may be expected to have engaged in their own individual discernment, before the group comes together.
9. The group has a leader/facilitator, and often, a secretary.

It is important that each member is committed to the process and both knows and accepts the ground rules in advance. Agreement about the meaning and limits of confidentiality is essential.

A simple step-by-step process of Group Discernment follows:

• The leader/facilitator welcomes members, outlines the matter at hand and clarifies any misunderstandings.
• The leader (or his/her appointee) invites the group to come to silence and pray together.
• After prayer, the leader/facilitator names the matter at hand and invites each member to share his/her wisdom – reflections, ideas, insights questions, unease if any. This sharing is usually the result of members’ individual discernment.
• Members listen intently and receive each other’s contributions in silence. A time of reflection follows each speaker, when members recall significant points (perhaps making a note of these, in order to aid memory). There is no discussion.
• As they listen and receive from others, each person is alert to any movement toward change in their earlier thinking.
• The leader/facilitator is alert to times when the group might need a period of silent prayer.
• When each member of the group has spoken, or indicated that s/he passes, members are invited to share what has been significant for them, as they listened. Clarification, questioning and discussion may follow. There is no rush!
• The leader/facilitator is alert, for areas of agreement/disagreement and seeks to discover and articulate “the mind of the group”.
• If there does not seem to be agreement, a further time of silent prayer may follow, and members are then invited to share, again, any new, clear, insightful reflections.
• This step is repeated until the group is satisfied that sufficient agreement has been reached.
• Gradually, the group will see and hear a common direction emerging.
• The leader/facilitator summarises the direction/decision(s) reached.
• The secretary details the direction/decision(s) of the group.
• The leader thanks group members for their participation and invites people to a prayer of thanksgiving.

Where a group is larger than ten members, a series of small groups is usually formed. The process, as outlined, is followed by each small group, and, when the small group work is completed, the whole group comes together; the small group leaders report on the conclusions of their group’s discernment; if necessary, clarification, questioning and discussion may follow:

Then the following steps are repeated within the whole group:

• The leader/facilitator is alert for areas of agreement/disagreement and seeks to discover and articulate “the mind of the group”.
• If there does not seem to be agreement, a further time of silent prayer may follow, and members are then invited to share, again, any new, clear, insightful reflections.
• This step is repeated until the group is satisfied that sufficient agreement has been reached.
• Gradually, the group will see and hear a common direction emerging.
• The leader/facilitator summarises the direction/decision(s) reached.
• The secretary details the direction/decision(s) of the group.
• The leader thanks group members for their participation and invites people to a prayer of thanksgiving.

In all our discernment what matters is hearing and heeding the voice of God’s Holy Spirit. When we listen, we hear that distinctive voice that Jesus promised us, the Spirit of Truth, to be with us always. The Holy Spirit is the Reign of God in our hearts. All is sheer grace!

(The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle acknowledges the work of Josephite Sister, Lauretta Baker,
in compiling this guide.)

‘Much of this thinking is based on the work of David Lonsdale sj and Mary Margaret Funk osb.
David Lonsdale. Listening to the Music of the Spirit. Darton, Longman &Todd. London. 1992.
Mary Margaret Funk. Discernment Matters. Liturgical Press. Collegeville. 2012.