207
We all know from experience that sometimes a
task does not bring the satisfaction we seek, re-
sults are few and changes are slow, and we are
tempted to grow weary. Yet lowering our arms
momentarily out of weariness is not the same as
lowering them for good, overcome by chronic
discontent and by a listlessness that parches the
soul. It also happens that our hearts can tire of
the struggle because in the end we are caught up
in ourselves, in a careerism which thirsts for rec-
ognition, applause, rewards and status. In this
case we do not lower our arms, but we no longer
grasp what we seek, the resurrection is not there
.
In cases like these, the Gospel, the most beautiful
message that this world can offer, is buried under
a pile of excuses.
278.âFaith also means believing in God, believ-
ing that he truly loves us, that he is alive, that
he is mysteriously capable of intervening, that he
does not abandon us and that he brings good out
of evil by his power and his infinite creativity. It
means believing that he marches triumphantly in
history with those who âare called and chosen
and faithfulâ (
Rev
17:14). Let us believe the Gos-
pel when it tells us that the kingdom of God is
already present in this world and is growing, here
and there, and in different ways: like the small
seed which grows into a great tree (cf.
Mt
13:31-
32), like the measure of leaven that makes
the
dough rise (cf.
Mt
13:33) and like the good seed
that grows amid the weeds (cf.
Mt
13, 24-30) and
can always pleasantly surprise us. The kingdom
