Always struggling

As I was saying, during this voyage of our life, there are times of calm weather, internal or external, and even for long periods. But only in heaven is peace definitive and tranquillity complete. Jesus Christ said so: Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matt 10:34).

Growing in charity

A person matures little by little, and never attains all the human perfection possible for one’s nature. In a specific area, one person may even become better than anyone else, perhaps unsurpassable in that specific natural activity. But as Christians, their growth knows no limits, because they can always grow in charity, which is the essence of perfection. ”For charity, considered in itself, has no limit to its increase, since it is a participation in the infinite charity which is the Holy Spirit. And in a similar way, the cause of the increase of charity is infinite in its power, for it is God. Furthermore, no limit to this increase can be fixed on the part of the subject: because whenever charity increases, there is a corresponding increase in the ability to receive more. So it is clear that we cannot fix any limits to the increase of charity in this life.”⁴

Listen to Paul’s testimony: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own (Phil 3:12). St Paul was a perfect wayfarer, and for that very reason he knew that he had not reached the perfection to which his way was leading. Don’t be surprised, then, if I tell you with St Augustine, “Let us run, let us press on, for we are on the road; let us not be so much confident about how far we have gone, as concerned about what we have not yet attained.”⁵