PATIENCE

Num 21:4-9; Ps 102 O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you; John 8:21-30


"But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?  We are disgusted with this wretched food!"

Patience worn out! Complaining against God and leadership!  This never happens in real life.  This only takes place in the biblical stories, right?

St Teresa of Avila was described life on earth as "a bad night in a bad inn."

The problem with humanity is we want earth to feel like heaven.  If this assessment is right then we have a very low expectation of heaven.

Here are a few words from St. JoseMaria Escriva, "Are you suffering great tribulations (or small ones)? Say very slowly, as if savoring the words, this powerful and manly prayer: May the most just and most lovable will of God be done, be fulfilled, be praised and eternally exalted above all things,  Amen.  Amen.  The Peace shall be found.

Why not try it when frustration rises, patience runs thread bare, sufferings mount, obstacles arise and life, well, simply looks and taste like the journey it is suppose to be.   Put things in its proper proportion.   Stand back and see the larger picture.  

As the psalm reminds us about God's attention, "he hears the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer."

A little destitution opens the door way to the inner halls of heaven,

Jesus says this in today' s gospel, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that i do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me."

When impatience rises, lift your eyes to the one who has been lifted up; with our eyes directed upward then all things began to shift in their proper place.  Patience returns to the one who has pondered the Cross continuously.  Proper perspective returns as well.