Patience is the hallmark of a Christian life. It is a sign of faithfulness and a
willingness to make a commitment: to sacrifice for the promise of a something
greater than ourselves – God’s promise of Life Eternal in His heavenly Kingdom.
Patience is also something many of us struggle with in our journey
of faith and we are not alone. Throughout
history people of God have struggled with their faith in God’s promise. These lapses in faith came through their lack
of patience; a lack in willingness to stay the course, to remaining true over
long periods; waiting for God’s work.
Remember, soon after the people’s deliverance from bondage in Egypt: -
after witnessing all God did for them – they became impatient waiting for God to
bring them into the Promise Land and made a god of their own - out of a golden
calf.
In today’s world we live a life of the immediate, the now. Everything happens instantly – we watch news
from half a world away - as it happens.
Who writes letters any more, when we can call or text? Many even now find email too slow for us
today. We live in an instantaneous world
- where nothing lasts for longer than a moment and we move from one thing to
the next - in the blink of an eye. So
how are we expected to have patience, especially the patience needed to live in
God’s time?
Today’s readings teach us about patience; showing us something of
God’s time and the patience needed to live a life of faith and hope. In Wisdom, we are reminded that commitment to
the faith - that delivered the people of Israel out of bondage - is still
relevant to the people even a thousand years later. The commitment to
remembering God’s promise of deliverance is ongoing, never to be forgotten –
that God is with us always.
In the faithfulness of Abraham, with his wife Sarah, who, even in
his old age – “one as good as dead” - waited with patience for the fulfillment
of God’s promise - to make of him, “a great nation, a great name and a blessing
for all people.” Abraham waited
patiently; remaining committed to God and kept faith that God would bring about
his promise even in Abraham’s old age.
If Abraham had no patience, we would not know his great name, - there
would’ve been no fulfillment of God’s promise to bring life from the barren
Sarah, and a great nation would not have come forth from him. There would be no blessing for all God’s
people.
Jesus tells us about being patient in waiting for the Master to
return; that those who wait patiently, in faith will be rewarded. As children of God, we are called to live
faithfully, to live with patient commitment - in the hope of rising to Eternal
Life.
Without
patience, the people would have abandoned God and drifted away from faith and
belief in God’s promise.
Without
patience, we would forget we are God’s beloved children
Without
patience, we would forget His unconditional love and mercy for us
Without
patience, we would forget our call to love one another as we are loved.
But - with patience,
we have faith in God’s promise of salvation.
With
patience, we live in hope of His promise of Eternal Life
With
patience, we know we will be received with joy and live in peace in God’s
Kingdom
Our lack of patience can lead us astray - into a dark journey - away
from faith in God and hope in His promise of life everlasting. Jesus warns us that:
if we, like
the slaves in the parable, lack patience in waiting for His return,
if we fail in
our commitment to act faithfully,
if we are not
waiting patiently at the door - ready to open when He arrives –
We will not receive God’s blessing and His reward of life
everlasting in His heavenly Kingdom.
~ Amen
Peace,
Deacon Don Ron
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