“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord.” – James 5:7
Let’s focus on patience this third week of Advent. The type of patience St. James is exhorting us to in the second reading this Sunday is patience as we wait for the second coming of Christ. This type of patience is about persevering with faith in this imperfect world. It’s the patience that allows us to suffer here on earth without losing faith that heaven–as well as a new heaven and a new earth awaits us (Revelation 21:1). We “groan inwardly” (Romans 8:23) waiting for God to come and save us from the pain, sorrow, toil, darkness, and death that this world can bring.
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” – Romans 8:22-23
This kind of waiting doesn’t sound very fun and Christmas-y to me. It forces me to see the world around me in its darkness exactly when I want to see all that’s light and beautiful. Having patience means that we have hope that one day we will enjoy heaven with God the Father as His beloved children. The Catechism teaches: “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1817). This is Gaudete Sunday. “Gaudete” means “rejoice.” We can’t rejoice here and now without hope in God. Hope requires a type of strength that comes from God: patience. This week, ask God to fortify you in the virtues of hope and patience so you have the strength to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2-3).
Come, Lord Jesus! We place all our hope in You. Give us the grace of patience and perseverance as we wait for You.
Suggested reading for connecting patience with hope: Spes non Confundit (“Hope Does Not Disappoint”) by Pope Francis (see especially paragraphs 4 & 5)
Prayer for growing in hope-filled patience:
O Merciful Redeemer, and God of infinite patience. I am astonished and confounded at your unwearied patience, always waiting for us to turn back to you. Help me to imitate you and grant me an increase in patience and conformity to your blessed will in all the adversities of this life. I offer you all my exterior and interior sufferings for this intention. Strengthen my weakness, confirm this my resolution of patiently waiting for all things. I place all of this inside your most Patient Heart. Amen.