15 Dec 2019. 3rd Sunday Advent. Cycle A-2020. Is 35:1-6a + Jas 5:7-10 + Mt 11:2-11

“Be Patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (Jas 5:7).

“March of the Penguins” documents the extraordinary patience of emperor penguins. Each march every winter over the Antarctic wilderness shuttling two hundred miles between breeding ground and fishing waters. They endure harsh lashing of recurrent freezing blizzard, while enduring months without eating.

Patience bears irritancy with equanimity, that is, without experiencing or showing adverse reaction. Patience is a strength to control oneself.

Patience bears repeated offenses; it bears delayed gratification; it bears unsatisfied expectation; it bears inconvenient situation; and it bears lingering suffering.

Like using a different club for a different golf swing, patience utilizes different tools for different circumstances. It uses tolerance to bear pestering irritation; endurance to bear lingering suffering, and forbearance to bear repetitive offenses.

Why be patient at all? 
Impatience leads to impulsive reaction that may be irrational. 
Impatience saps the energy needed to focus on rewarding pursuits. 
Impatience to every irritation leads to strife, damaging relationships. 
Impatience to every suffering weakens one's endurance, and stresses one's caregivers. 
Impatience to offenses leads to rush erroneous judgment, preventing the offender to reform. VSS

Photos: by Pixabay at Prexels.com.