The Catholic Church teaches that “faith is progressive”.
This means that Christ’s truth is increasingly understood, explained, and applied without denying what was previously taught. We build upon the foundation we’ve received and become increasingly blessed with grace building upon grace, and virtue building upon virtue, which too is progressive.
An example of this is found in Scripture:
2 Thessalonians 1:3
“your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
What we may not understand today, doesn’t mean we won’t ever understand it. And the faith we have today, no matter how little or large, isn’t fixed to a singular point of time and space. We grow and mature, spiritually, with ever increasing understanding and wisdom and charity (love).
Another fantastic example of this is Christ’s healing the blind man of Bethsaida.
Mark 8: 22-25
22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
