Dare to Seek Greatness: A Call to Everyday Holiness”

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On the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the Christian community gathers to meditate on the Gospel, Pope Leo gave renewed voice to Pope Francis's invitation to young people at World Youth Day in Lisbon:
"Aspire to great things, to holiness, wherever you are. Do not settle for less."
This exhortation, while addressed to the hearts of the youth, also speaks to every believer, inviting each to rethink their life in the light of Christian hope.

Context: Restlessness as a Sign of Life

In his address, the Pope underlined that every person is called to face great questions, the kind that do not yield immediate answers but instead open the door to a true inner journey:

"Let us not be alarmed if we find ourselves inwardly thirsty, restless, incomplete, longing for meaning and for the future […]. We are not sick; we are alive."

Restlessness, then, is not a flaw to be suppressed, but a sign of spiritual vitality. It is the driving force that pushes us to seek the deeper meaning of existence and not settle for surface-level living. This theme is central in today's liturgy, which warns against the illusion of earthly wealth: life does not consist in amassing possessions, but in being rich before God.

Holiness in Everyday Life

Reflecting on the Pope's words reveals a vision of holiness far removed from unattainable idealism. Holiness is not reserved for a few heroic souls, but is cultivated in daily life, as shown in the lives of Blessed Piergiorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis—models of a spirituality that is young, joyful, and concrete.

This message can be distilled into several practical guidelines for believers today:

1. Nurture your relationship with God – Prayer, adoration, and participation in the Eucharist root life in Christ and illuminate daily choices.

2. Foster authentic relationships – Aspiring to "great things" also means building bonds of fraternity, stepping out of individualism, and recognizing Christ's face in others.

3. Commit to the common good – True greatness is not about personal glory, but about helping build a more just, humane, and compassionate society, echoing the call of Saint John Paul II.

4. Overcome spiritual mediocrity – A Christian is invited to move beyond the comfort of lukewarm faith and embrace demanding paths that lead to growth in charity.

Relevance in Today's World

The call to "not settle for less" carries particular weight in an age marked by uncertainty, social crises, and fragile identities. Tor Vergata, symbolically evoked this Sunday, is a place of youth, study, and urban life. It reminds us that holiness can flourish in the ordinary: a thesis written with integrity, a supportive word to a struggling friend, a service offered selflessly—these are the gestures where Gospel greatness takes root.

A Project for Christian Living

Placed within the liturgical frame of the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Pope's message is far more than emotional encouragement. It is a blueprint for Christian life, balancing contemplation with action, thirst for the infinite with concrete engagement in the world.

To aspire to great things is to recognize that holiness is not an escape from reality but a way of fully inhabiting it—transfigured by the light of the Gospel. Those who embrace this challenge will discover that true wealth is not measured in possessions or success, but in days lived with intensity and given to others.

This is the silent revolution that can make society more fraternal and the soul more alive.

Marco Baratto