If to clean a course of water full of debris, we decide to isolate the debris, piece by piece, extracting one twig at a time, we will get a stiff neck and a good case of lumbago, and will never manage to get he job done. We should instead allow the river to flow to its mouth. If we aim for the mouth, the debris will gradually be deposited along the banks. The apostles followed Christ for who He was. They were attracted to Him. They did not rid themselves of their faults before following Him. They went after Him just as they were, and as they did so, their debris gradually settled along the banks.
Luigi Giussani
