An Exercise in Marist Discernment
Begin by choosing some specific situation from your own life, particularly one which you find perplexing or troubling, one where you are not certain about which course of action to follow. Describe this. situation as thoroughly as you can, perhaps even in writing, if it would be helpful. In a spirit of prayer, now, place yourself in Mary's presence, either her presence amidst the community of the new-born Church, or her presence in the home at Nazareth. Pray for the Grace you desire: ask that you may be fired by Mary's example and renewed by her presence for the service of the People of God today. From the vantage point you have chosen (early Church or Nazareth) , now survey the situation you have described above, using the following four steps:
Step one. To feel the way Mary feels.
To help make us sensitive to the needs of people in our particular situation, to feel as Mary does, we should consider her great devotion to God's people.
The Society of Mary exists, not because of the early Marists' concern for Mary or for people's devotion to her, but because of Mary's concern for the Church, because of her devotion to God's people.
Just as someone might be devoted to a friend, or to a family, or even to Mary herself; so Mary is devoted to the People of God, to every person. She experiences a great urgency to care for them, to meet the needs and promote the best interests of each one. She knows that 'the glory of God is a human being fully alive.' Her DEVOTION is stirred particularly when she sees someone crushed by life's circumstances or rejected by others. In the spirit of Mary's Devotion, then, take a new look at the situation you described above. Try to be sensitive to the kinds of things Mary would be sensitive to. Try to feel as she does.
Step two. To think as Mary thinks.
The next step is to understand the chosen situation, especially to understand its potentialities, to set a goal for ourselves in this situation.
To do this, we will be guided by the concept of FAMILY. Fr. Colin once described the goal of the Society of Mary in this way:
They will have as their aim ...to unite the faithful of Christ.. .as members of the same FAMILY whose mother is the Mother of God
Mary wishes to gather all Christ's people into her FAMILY. Our goal as Marists, then, is to introduce a FAMILY spirit, and precisely that ideal FAMILY spirit that we find at Nazareth and in the early Church, into every situation. FAMILY seems to mean such things as unity, peace, devotion to one another, acceptance even of the 'black sheep,' support...
Analyze the situation you have described. Try to determine whether any elements of FAMILY are missing, whether this is the cause of trouble or perplexity, and whether altering the situation by making it more like a FAMILY might help. If so, determine some specific goals for yourself whereby you will try to improve the situation.
Remember that members of a FAMILY are willing to make sacrifices for each other. Don't be surprised if taking FAMILY as your goal means making considerable sacrifices and great humility on your part.
If you are using this Exercise to set goals for Church ministry in parish, school or other situations, you might consider taking as your overall Marist goal: to give people an experience of the Church as FAMILY, the Family of Mary.
Step three. To judge as Mary judges.
This step has to do with determining the relative merits of one or another course of action (or non-action) . We will be guided here by a statement which is another of the inspirations or insights associated with the beginning of the Society of Mary: Mary said, 'My embrace will be open to all who wish to come to me. '
Mary's basic attitude is one of openness rather than being closed. OPEN ARMS. Inclusive rather than exclusive. Everyone welcome.
In determining, then, which action is best in your situation, it is important to see which action promotes more openness, tends to include rather than exclude people, is more welcoming. Use this criteria in judging the several courses of action available to you in your situation. Keep in. mind Mary's embrace, her OPEN ARMS.
Step four. To act as Mary acts.
Here it is a question of determining what style of action is proper to us as Marists. We have already decided upon an action, but how are we to act? How does Mary act? How does she want to act through us? For this we can be guided by another Marist insight:
In the various ministries they undertake, let them so conduct themselves that they may appear truly unknown and indeed hidden in the world.
'Hidden and unknown in the world.' What does this mean?
It does not mean to flee from taking action. It does mean that Our actions our attempts to serve others and draw them to God and to the Church, will tend to be the more successful the less we ourselves are known and seen, the less we ourselves enter the picture and get in the way. The greatest obstacles to the service of others and to proclaiming the Good News are pride and self-seeking, whereby we attract attention to ourselves, rather than letting the Good News of Jesus, and his love, speak for themselves through us.
A guiding image that we might borrow from the Gospel and amplify is the LEAVEN in the dough. Imagine Mary as the woman preparing dough which she will bake into the bread which is Christ's Body, the Church. We Marists are the LEAVEN that she kneads into the dough, hiding us as she herself was hidden, quiet, unassuming in the midst of the apostles in the early Church. Thus hidden in the world, we will be able to reach all parts of it unnoticed, and everywhere penetrate it with the Good News which brings increase and life.
Approaching, then, the situation you have chosen, carry out your actions in such a way that the Good News may ring out loud and clear, and the pure love of God may touch people's hearts, while you go unnoticed, choosing to be the LEAVEN hidden in the dough, but bringing increase to the whole loaf. | |
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