The Beauty of Patience – Life is in Stages.

(Homily for February 15, 2017).

Although it rained for only forty days, we are made to understand that Noah’s exit from the Ark was not immediate. It took him a couple of days before he eventually stepped out of the Ark. Noah was not just a courageous man who dared to be different, he was also a patient person. Patience is a virtue. The ability to wait in hope and expectation even when it seems as if things are not working out as planned is a gift and we need to pray for it. We live in a world of instant-food, instant-degrees, instant-everything. The new slogan is “the faster, the better.” We want things done for us and we want them done fast. At times, we even give God ultimatum on when to answer our prayers. And when God fails to meet up with our deadlines, we become fed up with him.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus healed a blind man but one unique thing about this particular healing is that it happened in stages. It was not an instant healing. First the man could see people who looked like trees, then Jesus prayed again before the man could then see things clearly. As to why Jesus decided to heal this man in stages instead of other instantaneous cures, we do not know and we cannot question the wisdom of God. I believe this particular story is in the Bible so that we would know that sometimes, God could choose to work things out for us in stages. At times, God may be blessing us little by little and we do not even know. It is not until you see big things happen that you say God has answered your prayer.

Be Patient, life is in stages. It is not the day you start a business that you begin to earn big. It is not the day you plant a tree that you start eating its fruits. It is not the day you ask God for something for the first time that you may receive it. When we ask for big things, we should learn to give thanks for the small ones. Be grateful for life, for small victories, for little progresses, for little miracles, for being able to sleep and wake up, even for the air we breathe. Be grateful for the small things because these little drops of water are what adds up to make mighty oceans.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, instil in me patience and gratitude for little progress. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 6^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis 8:6-13; 20-22 and Mark 8:22-26).

Fr. Abu.