Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent year A
Theme: Be patient!
In the 1st reading from the Book of Numbers, we see the impatience of the Israelites once again. They are quick to forget where they are coming from, and the role God played in bringing them to where they are now. In our reading today we see them grumbling against God and Moses. Then the Lord sent them a fiery serpent that bit the people and many of them died. Then the people went to Moses to beg him and for him to pray to God on their behalf, for mercy and forgiveness. The action of the Israelites is practiced by some of us, when we think that God is not responding as fast as we want to our request. If for nothing, we must learn to be patient with God, because his timing is often different from ours. Sometimes you hear people complaining that God has refused to answer their prayers, because they feel it is taking too much time. Forgetting that God responds to our prayers and request at his own time and when he knows will be best for us. Our source of great strength should always be that God never comes late; he comes when it is best for us.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the situation we find ourselves in life, never forget where you are coming from and how God has sustained until now. Don’t be ungrateful like the Israelites by forgetting what God has done for you in your life. The best thing to do when we find ourselves in difficult situation is to pray for God’s grace and strength to remain steadfast in faith, trusting in God. I know it can be very difficult sometimes, just know that the grace of God is more than sufficient for you, no matter the situation. Sometimes we are in search of miracles, and we forget that the fact that we are alive, is the greatest miracle; it is only those who are alive that pray and make requests from God. Patience is a virtue that we must pray for God to grant us. It will save us from making some very serious mistakes in our life. Some people have made decisions that they will continue to regret because they are not patient. When you have done your best in any given situation in your life, hand everything to God and continue to pray while you wait for his response.
In view of this dearly beloved in Christ, let us continue to pray that God will grant us the grace to be patient in life, irrespective of the situation we find ourselves. May the grace of God continue to sustain us in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.