Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)
“A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good”
Today there is a thirst for God, there is a frenzy to find meaning in one's existence and actions. The boom in esoteric interest proves it, but self-redeeming theories won't do. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God regrets that his people have committed two evils: they abandoned Him, the source of living waters, and dug cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water (cf. Jer 2:13).
There are those who wander between pseudo-philosophies and pseudo-religions —the blind leading the blind (cf. Lk 6:39)— until, discouraged, like Saint Augustine, with their own effort and the grace of God, they convert, because they discover the coherence and transcendence of revealed faith. In the words of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, “People have a flat, grounded, two-dimensional view. —When you live a supernatural life, you will obtain from God the third dimension: height, and, with it, relief, weight and volume.”
Benedict XVI illuminated many aspects of the faith with scientific texts and pastoral texts full of suggestions, such as his "Jesus of Nazareth" trilogy. I have observed how many non-Catholics orient themselves to his teachings (and those of St. John Paul II). This is not accidental, for there is no good tree that bears rotten fruit; there is no rotten tree that bears good fruit (cf. Lk 6:43).
Great strides could be made in ecumenism, if there were more good will and more love for the Truth (many do not convert because of prejudice and social ties, which should not be obstacles, but they are). In any case, let us thank God for these gifts (Saint John Paul II did not hesitate to affirm that the Second Vatican Council is the great gift of God to the Church in the 20th century); and let us pray for Unity, the great intention of Jesus Christ, for which He himself prayed at his Last Supper.