We all know that today the faith is still contested, is indeed again being contested, with the aim of attacking and overcoming us, so that we ask: Isn't it all in vain? How is the wretched power of the faith to survive among the gigantic powers of this world? Must it not simply be crushed between the world powers of atheism, must it not simply give in before technology and science and all their potential and discoveries? Must it not simply capitulate before egoism and the covetousness that have become overpowerful and can no longer be restrained?' And we might ask: 'Does it still make any sense today to become a priest, a sower of the word? Are there not for a young man more promising, more profitable and more successful occupations in which he can better develop his gifts?
Isn't the whole thing then a hopelessly outdated cause? Isn't the time past when the faithful hastened to church? Do you not see, we hear people say, how everything is slowly but surely crumbling away? How [can you fight] a losing battle?
In fact God is still continually moving incognito through history. He is still continually veiling his power in the garb of powerlessness. And still continually the true values, the divine values, truth, love, faith, justice, are the forgotten and powerless things in this world. And yet--this parable says: 'Be comforted!' God's harvest is growing: however much there are also fellow-travelers who run away as soon as this seems advisable; however much is done in vain, somewhere the word is ripening. Even today. Even today it is still not in vain that there are people who venture to proclaim the word and to be there for the sake of the word; who venture to resist the flood of selfishness, of covetousness, of unscrupulousness, and to build a dam against it. Somewhere in silence their seed is ripening. Nothing is in vain.
--Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), Ministers of Your Joy, pp 15-16
Does vocation still mean anything today?
