What God puts in our hearts, without asking us for much in return, is a precious sign of the immense trust He has in humanity and generates a miracle we often no longer marvel at: the birth of a fruit. This is what the evangelist Mark recounts in the parable, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how” (Mark 4:26-27). As good soil, having welcomed the seed, what is left for us to do is just to wait patiently, and then, be amazed.
Waiting at the traffic light
Once a week, I take a trip from my town to a larger city to meet with friends with whom I share the same ideals. I try to take extra money with me to help people who ask for alms at traffic lights. Last week, on my way home, I stopped at a red light and was approached by a young man ready to clean my windshield. I rolled down my window and while looking for money to give him I told him not to clean it because he would not be able to clean my windshield before the light turned green.
He looked at me and said, “Can you give me a little more? I need to buy some chicken for my children.” I answered yes even though I thought that what I was giving him wouldn’t have done much for his family. He took the money and said, “Will you let me earn it? I promise I will do it quickly.”
Almost without waiting for my response, he started cleaning the windshield, finishing just before the traffic light turned green. Immediately afterwards, he approached the window of the car and, with a happy face, shaking my hand, thanked me and wished me well. As I drove home, I thought about what had happened and realized that small gestures sometimes edify us and teach us more about ourselves than the people for whom we do them. I know that God is everywhere, but it never occurred to me that He was waiting for me at a traffic light.
(S.Z., Argentina)
Love remained inside me
For dealing drugs, I had ended up in juvenile detention, but where I continued to receive visits from Sir Valerio, my teacher from when I was in school. And that could not leave me indifferent. In life, I had been involved with bad people who I thought were my friends, but not with Sir Valerio: he loved me without any interest. Moreover, he would tell me stories of other boys, who had made a different choice from mine, those who lived the Gospel. One day, a new “guest” arrived in my cell: a boy so dirty he was smelly. The cellmates began insulting him, spitting on him, intimidating him to go wash up. Since he had no soap, no towel, and no spare clothes, I intervened in his defense and gave him my clothes, soap, and towel. He went to take a shower and peace returned. This experience was the beginning of a turning point. I thought that because of everything I had done, love had disappeared inside me. Instead, it was like a seed that, more alive than ever, was beginning to blossom.
(T., Italy)
(taken from “Il Vangelo del giorno,” Città Nuova, Year X, No. 1, May-June 2024)
