Mysterious Patience of God

"The patience of God is a mystery!  

How much patience he has with us! 

We do so many things, but He is patient." 

 ~Pope Francis, March 25th 2013

I once commented to a mentor, "patience is not my virtue."  I meant, of course, that I didn't consider the virtue of patience to be one of my personal strengths, but my mentor paused at my statement.  "Patience  is certainly your virtue.  God has called all of us to exhibit the virtue of patience.  Patience may not come easily to your temperament, but it is certainly your virtue."  

I certainly benefitted from the corrected perspective.  But, I still struggle to be patient on a daily basis.  Perhaps this is why Pope Francis' Gospel homily on Monday was particularly encouraging to me: 

"The emblem of the infinite patience that God has for man 

is reflected in the infinite patience that Jesus has for Judas.  

In today's Gospel (John 12:1-11),  Judas Iscariot criticizes Mary 

because she "took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard 

and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair." 

Jesus did not say: 'You are a thief.’ 

He was patient with Judas, trying to draw him closer through patience, his love. 

During Holy Week, we would do well to think of the patience of God,

 the patience that God has with each one of us, with our weaknesses, our sins.

"The patience of God is a mystery!  How much patience he has with us! 

We do so many things, but He is patient.

Let us think of our personal relationship, in this week: 
How patient has Jesus been with me in my life? 
Just this.  And then the words will rise from our hearts: 

'Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your patience.'"

~Pope Francis, Gospel Homily

March 25th, 2012

Holy Week

Thank you, Lord!  Thank you for your patience.

Happily Ever,

Queen B