Bearing Witness

“…if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24)

How Do We Bear Witness, or Testify?

What does it mean to “testify”? I have testified in court before, a civil trial many years ago that involved a friend fighting for trademark rights to a logo my ad agency created. I testified on his behalf and remember taking the witness stand. I was nervous, to say the least, even though I had no stake in the outcome really. What if we are called one day to testify to the truth on behalf of Jesus Christ, I often ask myself. Will I have the courage, even when faced with suffering because of it? Are we called to testify, evangelize, and be saints today? I believe so. We do it big ways and small, like bandaging a child’s scraped knee, teaching in classrooms, healing as nurses and doctors, creating works that glorify God, public speaking, and so much more. And I also think that one of the ways to journey toward sainthood is to be a pilgrim to holy places, and then to testify to what we’ve learned and gained spiritually…so others may know too, even if they don’t get to go to those places themselves. Since I’m a writer, I want to testify to my latest spiritual journey to Greece and Turkey, a walk in the “Footsteps of St. Paul,” one of the greatest public speakers and writers of all time!

What It Means to Be a Pilgrim

My husband and I recently returned from what was called “a pilgrimage trip” to Greece and Turkey, cruising by ship and then touring by land, just like St. Paul did, to places he preached and testified to the Good News of Jesus’ resurrection in Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. (I have also been on pilgrimage trips to Rome and Jerusalem, where he preached as well). What is special about a “pilgrimage” and how is it different than a “vacation?” Here is an explanation from our tour company, Select International: being a true pilgrim versus a tourist means shifting your mindset from a standard sightseeing trip to a sacred, prayerful journey.

Key Principles of Being a Good Pilgrim

• Put down the camera: Experience the moment first; immortalize it with an image only if the moment calls for it.
• Limit digital distractions: Minimize or unplug from social media networks and constant external communication to stay present in the sacred space.
• Pilgrim vs. Tourist: Ask yourself if you are visiting a site just to check off a destination or to encounter the living God and deepen your faith.
• Embrace the community: Share the journey with fellow travelers, local guides, and daily Mass, recognizing a shared unity that transcends personal inconveniences or crowded sites.
• Hold a spiritual intention: Bring specific intentions—such as asking for healing, offering thanksgiving, or renewing marriage vows at a holy site.

Anyone can do it, on their own or with a spiritual guide-led leader. We were blessed to have Fr. Leo Patalinghug from Baltimore and former Sirius XM Catholic Radio Show Host Gus Lloyd and his wife Michelle leading our pilgrimage. So what did I learn?

My Testimony from My Pilgrimage

I have climbed the Holy Stairs on my knees in Rome to reach the drop of blood on the top from Jesus’ crucifixion, weeping as I prayed the Stations of the Cross…I have been dunked in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized to renew my own baptism, laughing with joy as I came up out of the water…I have travelled four hours by foot and by camel to reach the top of Mount Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments to see a breathtaking sunrise in all God’s glory; all of these moments were part of pilgrimages to Italy, Israel and Egypt. What could I possibly expect from Greece and Turkey? Turns out, more. Before we left for our pilgrimage to Greece and Turkey, my husband and I listened to Hallow’s podcast program about Saint Paul and read Acts of the Apostles. To see this come alive was amazing. I had the following reflections visiting certain sites:

1) Athens and Corinth, Greece: We traced the footsteps of where St. Paul evangelized (by testifying) non-believers who previously worshipped other Gods. In all these places, we saw several grand temples built to legendary yet mythical “gods”…Apollo, Athena, Zeus and many more…and heard how Paul sympathized with the people, recognizing they at least believed in some type of religious higher power…but then called them to turn their hope and faith to the one true God and His Son, Jesus. It made me realize I need to be less judgemental of non-believers, and also believe I myself am called like Paul to evangelize when given the opportunity.

2) Ephesus, Turkey: We walked the streets to the fantastical temple to Artemus, with many temples to other gods along the way, and once again I marvelled at the big job St. Paul had trying to convert Greeks and Turks to Christianity; Also, it was here where we visited the tomb of St. John and House of Mary, where John brought her to live out her final days (remember Jesus told Mary and John to take care of each other when he was dying on the cross?) It was at Mary’s house, tucking a prayer for my kids and grandkids in the wall of prayers there, and in the Mass that followed, I heard Mary say “I love you Michele.” I had never heard it before (I’m sure she’s said it, I just wasn’t listening.) It broke my heart open, as a mother, and as a child. That there’s nothing I can do to stop her unconditional love for me, and that she is always there to help me.

3) Patmos, Greece: While this was my favorite Greek island we visited (and we visited several beautiful ones) because I got to go to the beach and swim in the Aegean Sea (!), I also had what I believe was my most spiritual experience here. We visited the cave where the Apostle John wrote Revelation. As a writer myself, I felt complete and total awe looking out the windows John gazed out to the Aegean, the small rock cave where he was imprisoned yet dictated his vision, the stone where he lay and imprints where he rested his head and hand, and the overhead large rock which, faith has it, broke into three when he completed his call. I left feeling renewed, no matter how hard it can sometimes be, to follow my own call to write for God.

Dear Holy Spirit, thank you for the Pilgrimage you called me to take, the spiritual guides who led it, the means with which to go, and my husband by my side; continue to speak through me, both in public and through my writing, to testify to the Good News of Salvation to all of those hurting and hungry to believe. Amen.