Patience in compassion

Perhaps that’s what we can learn from the readings of Friday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time. (cfr. Rom 9,1-5; Lk 14,1-6) There we can see how St. Paul expressed his deep sorrow and anguish for his unbelieving people and was willing to be cursed if only to help his Jewish brothers and sisters. The gospel reading talks about Christ giving priority to compassion over legalism by healing a man with a dropsy on a Sabbath day.

- Fr. Roy Cimagala

We can ask, why do we have to be patient when faced with all sorts of suffering, be it physical, moral or spiritual? There can be many answers to this question, foremost of which, I think, is that it is what is expected of us --that is, expected of us by God. That simple.

Patience is understandably a very trying trait to have, a most difficult virtue to cultivate. It somehow goes against our common sense, our instinctive impulses. Some people have even regarded it as unnatural, as inhuman.

All these spontaneous reactions with respect to this virtue are understandable, given our weakened condition. We tend to see things in a very limited and shallow way. It takes time and effort, and of course, God’s grace, before we get to see the true character and beauty of patience, and fathom its wisdom.