Patience of God

John 11 : 19 - 27

"Yes, Lord, I believe..."

I heard someone say: "time is the patience of God" and I have brought this to mind especially on occasions when I get really impatient with the slow-ness of change in people and situations. Also in myself, of course! Today the church remembers "Martha", one of the family friends of Jesus. She is best remembered as the 'busy bee' who was chided by Jesus for complaining while serving him (Luke 10). But today there is a second reading, the one above, that shows Martha in a different light. We see her full of faith. In fact, with the passing of time, we notice it is not the same old Martha, who was too distracted with her activity to sit with Jesus. She has grown, something has deepened in her.

Yes, people do change, given time and God's grace. But it is a s-l-o-w process. We are usually much more impatient for things to happen. And often, we do not allow ourselves to look closer at those whom we have 'labelled' this or that way. So of course we also do not give ourselves the chance to affirm when we see even small changes in others. We are blinded by self righteousness and lose the opportunity to bless another.
I have noticed how difficult it is to 'change' when people close to me, whether natural or church family, are not open to the s-l-o-w and stepwise movement. They think they already 'know' me. But I know in myself that I have been changing all my life. There are times when the growth is imperceptible. There were even times when I backslided. But there is a discernible forward momentum. I trust that God does see this. Perhaps a number of close friends may be able to affirm this. And I do know that I am not opening to change just to be applauded. Martha's greatest affirmation came when she was able to declare with clear faith her belief in Jesus - as the resurrection and the life. At that moment she would have been awakened to the change in herself.

God's time, and his grace invite change. He is patient with us. Are we, with ourselves and others?