14 October 2022 · 2022-10 newsletter
The ‘Authentic Witness’ path.
People who consider themselves ‘authentic witnesses to God’s will in their lives’ and desire to help pass this on to others so they can follow a straight path, often find the truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit actually does not work singly along a straight path, but rather a crooked one. For example when Mary was imbued with the Spirit of Christ and was told she would give birth to the awaited child, her path became literally and metaphorically crooked.
First she is told she is blessed, but then Joseph has reservations until the Holy Spirit speaks to him. The birth of the child was to take place at the same time as the Census, meaning not a straight path quietly sitting at home waiting, but an arduous winding journey to Bethlehem from Nazareth.
When Mary and Joseph, like many in the world today, found the expected comfort at the end of their journey was not to be, and found themselves sleeping /birthing a child in a stable, this would not have been their usual expectation I’m sure. Then they cannot go home because a certain King is threatened by this child who many say is Israel’s future king, and this means they move to Egypt and keep this child a secret for some time.
These observations from the life of Mary and Joseph from the time of the Annunciation to the Birth of Christ have arisen from my preparing for the December 4th Camino Walk here at Mt Schoenstatt, which is being led by the ‘Mary and Martha’ Schoenstatt Mother’s group. This picture of Mary’s life as an authentic witness shows how many times she may have planned things a certain way but the Holy Spirit led her on a different path.
Always from ‘the unknown’ to the ‘safe’ way, albeit as I have said, along many a ‘crooked path’, leaving her to ‘ponder on these things’.
We too are often led like this. An idea is thrown up in a meeting, certain people may run with it; then it looks like it’s going along nicely and the buck gets transferred to someone else. But it comes to pass that this is the right way and a completely new focus comes into view. Or we write a document and the editor changes something, meaning a sentence takes on a completely different meaning. This is Schoenstatt’s way: We believe in God’s Providence and Mary guiding us along the path of authenticity in all ventures, be they projects, or articles with all the ‘about turns’, and ‘up and downs’.
The lines of a lovely hymn come to mind,
“Winding ways will be straight, rough roads made smooth again. Mountain and hill made low, when he comes, when he comes. Follow the path where it leads, Do not know but believe, believe that it will show you the way. Prepare yourself for his voice, there to call you. Alone will you travel to ever arrive?” Alone you must travel to ever arrive.”
(Bill Tamblyn: ‘Winding Ways’, text based on Isaiah: St Thomas More Choral Series)
I read an article from the 15th of September this year, where Pope Francis spoke of looking at whether the ‘plurality of religions’ are the will of God?’ with all the challenges that brings about. Others were saying that he risks endorsing a ‘supermarket of religions’ (NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press September 15, 2022.). We realize that on far bigger and more complex levels that the Pope too is constantly called to witness authentically and is being led on these ‘crooked paths’ that ‘will be made straight’.
Whether it be ourselves or the Pope, ultimately our ability to be an ‘authentic witness‘, rests solely on our ability to hear and move with the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love and outstretched arms of our Mother and God the Father, in the timing and understanding of Christ our Lord.
Angela
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