28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C

Many of us, honestly, don’t like to wait. If we want something, chances are, we want it to happen yesterday. It’s like the one person who prayed, Lord, grant me patience, and I want it to right now. When we wait, time seems to slow down, and it doesn’t seem as exciting. But there’s a value in waiting for something. I remember after my first year of being a priest, and I felt I was ready to become a pastor. So I called the vicar of clergy and ask for it to happen. But he said that I need to wait for another year, and I wasn’t very happy with that news. But looking back, I should’ve waited for another 10 years.

The prophet Habakkuk, as he looked out to his beloved city, Jerusalem, he may have been overwhelmed with anxiety. The Babylonian army had just defeated Egypt, and he knew that his people may be next. Also, within his own city, some people started worshiping other gods, the upper and lower class were being more divided, and the Kings were creating alliances with other nations, rather than being dependent upon God. He pleaded with God: How long, O Lord. Surrounded by many uncertainties, God seemed nowhere in sight. The prophet wanted God to intervene right then and right now. But Habakkuk also learned a valuable lesson. He had to be patient and wait.

The parable of the mustard seed, a parable about our need to have a little bit of faith. If we have some faith, we can move mountains. If we have some faith, we can move a tree that is deeply rooted. If we have a bit of faith, we can overcome every obstacle. But the planted seeds need lots of time and patience to grow. We can’t plant something and think that it will happen overnight. It’s not how nature works. It's the same with our relationship with God. It takes time to cultivate and allow it to grow.

God speaks through the prophet Habakkuk, For the vision still has its time, presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late. God’s vision and plan is still unfolding.

What is faith, but the assurance that God is always with us. What is hope, but the assurance that God is helping us. What is charity, but the assurance that God loves us into existence. The focus is on God and God’s time in everything. We try to keep in the back of our minds, in everything we do, that God is always at work, and we are part of God’s plan of continuing salvation.

When we struggle with patience, it’s good to consider that everything is part of God’s plan. We may not know how it will unfold, but God is always at work. It’s like the saying: work as if everything depends upon you. And pray as if everything depends upon God. Certainly, patience is not just sitting around and doing nothing, and waiting for God to act.

Throughout the week, take some to see why waiting and being patient is valuable. We may not be accustomed to the virtue of patience, but there’s a value and goodness in it.