Patience and Rose Sunday

“ Christian Realism- Patience from James 5:7-10”

 

   That well known Anglican, JI Packer in his book Knowing God says this in his chapter ,” These Inward trials” : “ Unreality in religion is an accursed thing….Unreality toward God is the wasting disease of much modern Christianity. We need God to make us realists about both ourselves and Him…”   John Newton who knew much about grace, also an Anglican priest wrote it this way ,” I asked the Lord , that I might grow

      In faith and love , and every grace;….I hoped that in some favoured hour at once He’d answer my request, and by His love’s constraining power , Subdue my sins, and give me rest.  Instead of this, He made me feel the hidden evils of my heart…’Lord, why is this?’  I trembled cried, ‘ Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?  ‘ Tis in this way’ the Lord replied ,’ I answer prayer for grace and faith’  THESE INWARD TRIALS I EMPLOY FROM SELF AND PRIDE TO SET THEE FREE; and break thy schemes of earthly joy, THAT THOU MAY’ST SEEK THY ALL IN ME.”

 

       The Epistle reading from the one year lectionary reminds us that we as stewards of “ the mysteries of God” be found “faithful”. 1 Cor 4  “ Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”   Certainly one of those things we should have is longsuffering or patience which is literally bearing up under long.  ..i.e. patience.

       “ Be patient therefore brethren until the coming of the Lord”  James  . Patience is not one of our current great things is it?  We are impatient.  One of the most difficult things to do is to wait.    James repeats in vs. 8 , “ Be patient also ye; stablish ( fix them, to make fast, to set) your hearts , because the coming of the Lord has drawn near.”

         How patient are we?  Advent is about waiting.  We wait for the birth of our Lord.  It takes a lot of faith to be a waiter, not an impatient person.  We are waiting for God’s plan to be enfolded because that is better than our plan.  You see it is not always Christmas.  I remember that scene from the Narnia books when it was only winter when the children went through the wardrobe.  Winter has its place.  We wait for the end of winter because we do not always want to be in winter, do we? 

         Today we lit the third candle of Advent, “ Rejoice” from the original epistle reading for today ( Philippians).  He is coming. So rejoice.  We remember His promise.  The color is rose to remind us of that, not the purple of advent’s penitence.

     The Greek word we have been dancing around is patience or makrothumia.  As I said earlier, long –makro but thumia means hot anger.  Long hot temper----not short tempered.  That is what God asks us to be for His will and direction. To listen to our brothers and sister in the faith is a grace and gift to them and to ourselves.  WE do not have all the answers , do we?  Charles Swindoll in his book, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life says  patience is a “ rare and remarkable virtue.”  In today’s Gospel , Matthew 11 we can see a bit of impatience in John.  “ And when John….heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘ Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?” vs 3.  It is often like us. 

      Our expectations are often not met, or should I say, mostly not met?  We open the Christmas gifts and hope what we asked for.  Then come the socks, the shirts and the sweaters.  This was not on our lists!  Can you think of a time when you had to be patient ?  What was it that God was teaching you?  I can think of many such times in my life.  I wondered if God had left.  But when things came to an end and I saw what God had done I realized I was not ready for what He was going to do earlier.  It took much waiting and no’s to understand that.

       James tells us to remember the prophets “who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.”  Job is such a one.  Vs. 11 “ You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord----that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”

       We should be patient because God is patient with us.  …” when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is , eight souls, were saved through water.” I Peter 3:20  “ Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Ro. 2:4

        God’s purposes cannot be rushed.  They will unfurl in His time.  And in the mystery of providence they will be made plain.  The hymn by William Cowper says: “ God moves in a mysterious way….His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour; the bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.”   William Cowper had times of darkness in his life.  His depression led him to want to commit suicide.  His intention was to call a cabbie ( not a car, but horse-drawn buggy), and ride to the river Thames to jump in and end his life.  The heavy fog rolled into London and it was so thick the cabbie couldn’t find his way to the river. Being frustrated, he ordered Cowper out.  Cowper stumbled around the dark until he found himself at his own door.  After this, he penned the words, “ God moves ina mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”  INDEED HE DOES!

     Are you in such a place where you wonder where God is?  He is right there with you.  He never left you, always has been, and always will be.  Therefore be patient.  Our Lord said, “ I will be with you always.”  Patient people believe that God will act in His time and for our good and His glory.