Blessed Mary, Mother of Consolation, pray with me for the virtue of patience. There are so many times when my lack of patience keeps me from becoming the kind of person God wants me to be.
Guide my thoughts to you and the example we have in your own life. Help me to become patient, as you were patient. Through your guidance, may I become more accepting of others around me. Assist me to welcome difficult times with a patient heart.
May I be patient, Mary, as was your beloved husband, Joseph. His quiet acceptance of the will of Our Loving Father should be an example for me always. His patience was most wonderful in the eyes of God.
Pray for me, dear Mother of God, that I will allow the Father to come into my heart and help me grow in patience. Amen.
Reflection
Ever since I was a small child, I’ve heard the expression, “Good things come to those who wait.” I understood that meant that if I would stop nagging Mom and Dad, I just might someday get that new bicycle or some other treasure. Nowadays, I know that what it really means is that if we truly have trust in God and the Truth He gave us through His Son and Spirit as related in the Scriptures and in sacred Tradition, that the “best” good we can ever hope for—Heaven—awaits us.
How many times a day do we give up on a task because it is too difficult, or because it is taking too long? Or maybe it seems tedious and unrewarding? How often do we become frustrated when we aren’t achieving the results we want? How often do we petition God to speed up His plan a bit, to let us see the rewards of faithfully following Him now, rather than later?
Our society, as a whole, is not patient. We have cell phones with which we can instantly access anyone, we have entertainment at the touch of a button, and we can travel halfway around the world in a day. Many of us wish God would work hastily too.
But He doesn’t. And He never will. Our Father has His own timeframe, which humans (no matter how hard we try) can never influence. God dances to the beat of His own drum. And He invites us all to join in.
The lack of results we sometimes see from prayer can be frustrating, the painfully slow progress we make in our relationships with others can seem unbearable, and the knowledge that if we could instantly affect others’ hearts each person would personally know God can make us wonder why He refuses to work at our pace. And yet, when we wait patiently for God’s timing, the results are beautiful; more magnificent than anything that could be accomplished by humans.
Though God can sometimes seem like a slow learner, He is the Teacher—the Master—and we are called to simply follow His lead, not to set the pace. And hopefully, with this acknowledgement, we will each be filled with peace, as we follow the Lord of the Dance.
But He doesn’t. And He never will. Our Father has His own timeframe, which humans (no matter how hard we try) can never influence. God dances to the beat of His own drum. And He invites us all to join in.
The lack of results we sometimes see from prayer can be frustrating, the painfully slow progress we make in our relationships with others can seem unbearable, and the knowledge that if we could instantly affect others’ hearts each person would personally know God can make us wonder why He refuses to work at our pace. And yet, when we wait patiently for God’s timing, the results are beautiful; more magnificent than anything that could be accomplished by humans.
Though God can sometimes seem like a slow learner, He is the Teacher—the Master—and we are called to simply follow His lead, not to set the pace. And hopefully, with this acknowledgement, we will each be filled with peace, as we follow the Lord of the Dance.
As an example, look at Paul. (Acts 18:9-18) He “remained for quite some time” with a people who had tried to have him put to death. Wow. That takes faith. But more strikingly, it takes patience.
The Lord told Paul to continue speaking and as a result we have the Christianity we live and believe today. Your voice may bring others to Christ. Do not be afraid to speak the truth of the faith in love. Love cannot fail.
But how do you speak the truth in love? First, God is the Father of the truth. We should never speak unless we have first prepared ourselves by speaking to Him. More, we should avoid speaking until we have heard Him speak in the scripture and in the Word who is Jesus. Speaking the truth in love and in faith means that we must start from love.
Do not be afraid. That also is important. Just as God gave Moses the words he was to say to Pharaoh and indeed, even gave him a spokesman when his own voice failed - so God will do for each of us. But only if what we speak comes from love of the other - not from what we want, but from what God wants for each of us - a home with Him.
But how do you speak the truth in love? First, God is the Father of the truth. We should never speak unless we have first prepared ourselves by speaking to Him. More, we should avoid speaking until we have heard Him speak in the scripture and in the Word who is Jesus. Speaking the truth in love and in faith means that we must start from love.
Do not be afraid. That also is important. Just as God gave Moses the words he was to say to Pharaoh and indeed, even gave him a spokesman when his own voice failed - so God will do for each of us. But only if what we speak comes from love of the other - not from what we want, but from what God wants for each of us - a home with Him.
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