Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. (Luke 9:21)
It sure can be hard to wait. Whether we are awaiting the results of a medical test or praying for God’s help in some area of our lives, when we know what we think should happen, we just want to see it done.
This must be how the disciples felt in today’s Gospel reading. They had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the promised One who was going to save Israel. But time was marching on, and Jesus wasn’t making any dramatic messianic moves. It must have been very tempting to want to spread the word so that they could build support for Jesus’ cause and pave the way for the deliverance that he would bring about.
Jesus didn’t let this happen. As he patiently taught them about his true mission, he also forbade them from spreading the news prematurely. Most likely, the disciples were expecting an immediate deliverance for Israel from Rome, probably the result of a political or military uprising. But Jesus had something even better in mind. The disciples’ highest hopes were nowhere near the salvation that Jesus was about to bring. At that point, they just needed to be quiet and to wait.
How about you? Have you been waiting for God to act, only to see years go by with no changes? In situations like these, it can be easy to doubt that God is really willing or able to help you. You can be tempted to take matters into your own hands, to try to get things moving the way you think they should. The problem is that, like the disciples, we see only part of the picture, and that keeps us from imagining God’s huge, perfect plan. We think he is silent and inactive, but he is at work, just not always in the ways we are looking for.
God doesn’t want you to try to take care of yourself and your loved ones on your own. He wants you to stay close to him, to wait for him, and to cooperate with him in anything he gives us to do. So offer him your doubts and fears. Ask him to give you patience today. Tell him that you want to trust in his love and his wisdom.
“Father, help me to trust that you have a plan, and that it is good. Lord, I believe in you.”
Haggai 2:1-9; Psalm 43:1-4
Daily Marriage Tip for September 27, 2013:
“Before we were married I expected that Rita would always be ready for sex when I was and that we would do it the way they vote in Chicago – early and often.” (Bob Boeke) Over time sexual desires can diverge. The cure? Patience, creativity, and compromise.