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There are “good” people who “want to do good” everywhere. For example, in this Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 9), the disciples tell Christ that they “ saw a man expelling demons in his name, without being one of those who followed him “.
This raises the question of the necessity of evangelization.
What’s more, the sinner entering conversion is still a sinner, and can always be reproached for his shortcomings.
Recent events surrounding Abbé Pierre are a case in point.
The question then arises as to whether or not we should be peddling a work that is proving itself to be perfectly finished, when it is not being contradicted, or ruined in its realization, or even discrediting its source, which is nonetheless divine.
And yet the Church humbly obeys God when she calls each of Christ’s disciples “to join with these men (of society) in esteem and charity” (Ad Gentes, §11)… in order to get to know them… And continues in this way, taking Christ’s example for ourselves: “ Christ himself searched the hearts of men and brought them by a truly human dialogue to the divine light “.
We are the first to benefit from this, and then to become disciples.
So ” in the same way, his disciples, deeply imbued with the Spirit of Christ, must get to know the people in whose midst they live, and engage in conversation with them”.
Not to let them sleep there, but “ so that they too may learn, in sincere and patient dialogue, what riches God, in his munificence, has dispensed to the nations “.
True “good” is in fact God’s own gracious gift, which He Himself has willed to dispense to every man according to His own measure.
It’s up to each of us, in our own freedom, to respond to this call, first and foremost the disciples: “(who) must at the same time strive to illuminate these riches with the light of the Gospel, to liberate them, to bring them back under the authority of God the Savior.”
The path inaugurated by Christ in the middle of his communion with his disciples is indeed to “bring (everything) back under the authority of God the Saviour”. Whether it’s the pagan’s adherence to the One he will recognize as Savior… whether it’s the still-sinful disciple’s rectitude of life, who must make the choices of life according to God’s heart and no longer accommodate himself by semi-renunciation to occasions of sin, which lead to personal downfall and scandal before others.
Humility is therefore the order of the day for those who know that this is a constant battle.
The Curé d’Ars knew this well, when he said: “If you ask him with all your heart for your conversion, sure, you’ll get it![1]. “ The “point” is precisely in this “with all your heart “…as we well know, our heart is never “all there “… This Sunday’s Psalm 18 opens the way for us: “Preserve your servant also from pride: let it have no hold on me. Then I shall be blameless, clean from great sin” – a gracious gift, if ever there was one!
[1] [Cath. LASSAGNE P. M. 36 Nodet 39/139]