196
Every period of history is marked by the pres-
ence of human weakness, self-absorption, com-
placency and selfishness, to say nothing of the
concupiscence which preys upon us all. These
things are ever present under one guise or anoth-
er; they are due to our human limits rather than
particular situations. Let us not say, then, that
things are harder today; they are simply different.
But let us learn also from the saints who have
gone before us, who confronted the difficulties
of their own day. So I propose that we pause to
rediscover
some of the reasons which
can help
us to imitate them today.
207
Personal encounter with the saving love of Jesus
264.âThe primary reason for evangelizing is the
love of Jesus which we have received, the experi-
ence of salvation which urges us to ever greater
love of him. What kind of love would not feel
the need to speak of the beloved, to point him
out, to make him known? If we do not feel
an intense desire to share this love, we need to
pray insistently that he will once more touch our
hearts. We need to implore his grace daily, ask-
ing him to open our cold hearts and shake up
our lukewarm and superficial existence. Stand-
ing before him with open hearts, letting him look
207
âCf. V.M. F
ernández
, âEspiritualidad para la esperanza
activa. Discurso en la apertura del I Congreso Nacional de
Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (Rosario 2011)â, in
UCActualidad
,
142 (2011), 16.
