I Need More Patience
I need (a lot) more patience. I’m not sure I have any patience left. I would be happy to have more patience.
On Sunday, the first reading for the Exaltation of the Cross began, “With their patience worn out by the journey.” In my homily, I said, “My patience has been worn out by so much sin in the world.” Honestly, sometimes I feel like I don’t have any patience. I would like things done immediately. I would like the world to change now. Yet, by the grace of God, I make it through the things that require patience. I give thanks to God for the patience that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22, cf. Colossians 3:12).
How much patience do you have?
The Israelites didn’t seem to have much patience. God set them free from slavery in Egypt and parted the Red Sea for their escape. How quickly they forgot what God had done for them.
They complained about not having enough food. God sent down the manna as bread from Heaven. They complained about that too.
The Israelites didn’t have much patience. I don’t have much patience. Who does?
God!
God is the one who shows great patience with us (see Nehemiah 9:30). “God is a just judge, powerful and patient, not exercising anger every day” (Psalm 7:12) God would be justified in punishing us for our sins. Yet, He is patient. He forgives us over and over…. Our God is an awesome God!
The Israelites “soon forgot all he had done; they had no patience for his plan” (Psalm 106:13). We must not forget the works of the Lord (see Psalm 78). It is when we remember his works, that we know we can count on Him. We can trust the Lord. This trust makes it possible for us to be patient in our sufferings.
We are blessed to have a God to whom, when we struggle to stop sinning, we can fall to our knees, give God homage and beg him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full” (Matthew 18:26).
There is a lot of conflict in the world. If we want to change the world we need to remember, “The ill-tempered stir up strife, but the patient settle disputes” (Proverbs 15:18).
There are those who think they can end war through the use of military power. Proverbs tells us “The patient are better than warriors, and those who rule their temper, better than the conqueror of a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Military action may stop an aggressor but we seek lasting peace.
If we want to change the world, we must remember, “Until the right time, the patient remain calm, then cheerfulness comes back to them” (Sirach 1:23). With patience comes the possibility of dialogue. Through dialogue, we can find peace.
Military force may end a present conflict but it does not bring true peace. It does not change what is in people’s hearts. Diplomacy can be a better tool to change the world and bring an end to violence. “By patience is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone” (Proverbs 25:15).
In an angry room, tempers may flair. If we do not keep our tempers in check, hatred is fueled. Ephesians speaks of a better way, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3). It is difficult to dialogue (negotiate) with a hothead. It is much easier to dialogue with a humble, gentle, patient person who is concerned not just for their own wants but for the needs of all.
What is needed is love. I am not referring to romantic love. Here, when I speak of love, I mean to care for another person’s well-being. Still Paul speaks of what is true of all love, “love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:4-6).
Isn’t it easier to speak to a person who is patient, kind, not pompous, rude, or selfish?
Peace,
Fr. Jeff