Dutiful examination of conscience

When the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. (Luke 11: 29-32)

Jesus does not despise those who begin following Him more out of curiosity than out of faith, but he warns that this state cannot last forever. Faith, in fact, is also the fruit of a journey of growth: we start by trying to understand the reason for the signs we've received and then we continue by trusting ever more in Jesus' teaching. Let us seriously examine our consciences to understand where we are in our growth process, and let us sincerely ask ourselves whether we have made progress in the last year or whether we are still at the same level.