Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Father's Patience

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Reflection on 2 Peter: 3:15a
Taken from Morning Prayer Saturday week IV


How many of us, as parents, have experienced those first few tentative steps taken by our children as toddlers. It is exciting and joyful. But we don’t expect them to run yet – we are patient. When they fall, as they surely do, we help them back on their feet and encourage them to try again. We are proud of their effort and we are patient.

As they grow and enter each new stage of development we avoid belittling them or shaming them for the wet pants; the poor grade; the error in judgment or the bad attitude that comes in the teen years. We don’t ignore these things but we reassure, teach, guide and direct them to the right path.

Throughout their childhood and adolescence it is our patience, constant encouragement and guidance that leads them to maturity and a productive adult life. And we do it because they are our children and we love them.

If we who are sinners know how to give good things to our children how much more will your Father in Heaven give good things to those who ask him. (Matthew 7:11)


We are told to “make every effort to be found without stain.” The spiritual life takes effort. It is our choice to either get up and keep going or lie down and die in the mud. We decide to take the Father’s hand and continue or not. It’s a step at a time. We won’t run before we walk. We won’t come to perfection without Christ. God is our Father and he does know how to give good things to his children.
 
On his way to be crucified, tradition tells us that Jesus fell at least three times. Each time he got back up and continued on his journey. But he needed help. He couldn’t do it alone. He had the Father, the Spirit and Simon of Cyrene.
 
We can’t carry our crosses alone either, but with God’s help and the assistance of our brothers and sisters, scripture and the sacraments we can also get back up and continue our journeys knowing that our Father, who is patient with us, is there to cheer us on.

That is why his patience is directed toward salvation – because he knows how to give good things to his children. The Father knows we will fall down. He knows we will be tripped up. He helps us to our feet, wipes away our tears, brushes us off and tends to our scrapes and bruises. He encourages us to keep going; keep trying; keep pressing on. We cannot let ourselves be so discouraged by our own failings that we despair and give up. We cannot let ourselves be so overwhelmed that we fail to hear his voice. We must keep pressing on.

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