(Audio)
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
It is not easy to be patient. The proof of this is that we complain, about one another, about circumstances, about anything really. Complaints are a symptom of our lack of patience.
Our lack of patience might even seem admirable to us. Who wants to find stillness in difficult times? Is it not better to push on through, to force a resolution no matter the cost?
Yet patience is not entirely passive. We do our part to prepare. We actively await the coming of the King by our own works of charity. Even so, we cannot bring about his coming by our efforts. We cannot cause the restoration of all things in him. And so patience, active waiting in hope, is necessary.
Jesus wants us to have a hope that is real enough to strengthen us as we await his coming.
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
This is now. But it is also the future. Our faith, hope, and love connect us so firmly to this vision that patience acquires new meaning for us. Let us meditate on what the good things Jesus has done and is doing in the world.
"Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."
When we treasure the blessings we have received we are able to hear the promises of the future and can wait for them without despair, without trying to solve problems beyond our strength, but doing our part to prepare a place for the coming king.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
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