Patience is the ability to remain calm and thoughtful instead of reacting hastily to situations. A patient person does not respond to circumstances exactly as they appear but takes time to reflect before acting. Patience involves the grace of letting go, trusting God, and responding with wisdom rather than anger.
God Himself is presented to us as patient and kind. In His great love, He has also given us the Holy Spirit to assist us and intercede for us in our weakness.
In today’s First Reading from the Book of Wisdom, we are reminded that God’s wisdom guides us on our Christian journey. Although God is all-powerful and the just Judge of all, He governs us with mercy and gentleness. He possesses the power to do whatever He wills, yet He chooses to be patient with us.
God teaches us that a righteous person must also be kind. Kindness means loving others, allowing them to coexist peacefully with us, and recognizing that not every issue needs to be escalated or turned into conflict.
The Gospel beautifully illustrates God’s patience through the parable of the wheat and the weeds. A man sowed good seed in his field, but during the night an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. When the servants suggested uprooting the weeds immediately, the master replied, “Let both grow together until the harvest.”
This is a perfect example of God’s patience. Rather than destroying everything at once, He allows both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the proper time. There can hardly be a greater demonstration of patience than this.
Sadly, even within the Church, we are sometimes impatient with one another. Some people, after receiving a little responsibility, begin to lord it over others. The same happens in society. In some workplaces, a person with a small amount of authority can become more intimidating than even those above them. Sometimes, a gateman behaves as though he is more powerful than the owner of the house.
In the Church, this should never be the case. Some people believe newcomers should be placed on probation before being accepted. But the House of God is a place of love, not suspicion. There is no probation in God’s family. We are all equal before Him, and there are no strangers in the Church.
Once a person is registered in a parish and belongs to the Catholic family, they should be welcomed wherever they go. We must learn to be patient with one another and never discriminate against anyone.
Our church wardens are rightly called Ministers of Hospitality. Hospitality means welcoming others with love and correcting them with gentleness whenever necessary. The Church is not a barracks and should never be militarized. Correction must always be done with love, respect, and compassion. The Church is a family, and as members of that family, we must avoid passing harsh judgment on one another.
Whenever you see a stranger in church, welcome them warmly. If you notice something that needs improvement in the parish, do not simply complain. Go to the parish office, report it respectfully, and suggest ways it can be improved. If we recognize a problem but make no effort to help solve it, then we have not fulfilled our responsibility.
Every member of the Church is important. Be proud to belong to God’s family. If we cannot find love in the House of God, where else shall we find it? Even in a beer parlour, a lonely or troubled person may find someone willing to listen, share a drink, and offer companionship. How much more should the Church be a place where people experience genuine love, care, and acceptance?
The hidden face of God’s love is His patience, allowing both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the harvest. We are called to imitate this divine patience in our daily lives.
Wives, be patient with your husbands, for they too face many challenges. Husbands, be patient with your wives, who work tirelessly to care for the home and the children. Families flourish when patience and understanding prevail.
If God were to treat us according to our sins, none of us would stand. Yet He continues to show us mercy and patience. Therefore, if God is patient with you, you must also be patient with your neighbour.
Finally, we should also learn to communicate with one another. If you are sick and no one informs the priest, he may not know that you are in the hospital. It is unfair to expect him to know everything when he is responsible for caring for a parish of nearly two thousand people, including children. Let us work together, communicate openly, and support one another as members of one family in Christ.
May God bless and keep you. May His face shine upon you, be gracious to you, and bless the work of your hands. Amen.