Last Wednesday at the mass of the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we heard that Simeon was a holy waiter; he lived waiting to see the consolation of his people Israel. Today’s parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, or Tares, is filled with spiritual significance and truth: “Not yet … but wait” says the householder to his servant’s request. Sometimes, that’s what God calls us to do, to wait, and it’s not a glamorous task. In fact, part of every Christian’s maturing process is a period of waiting. Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet”, between a denial and a delay. Our life is one mad rush to get from one wait to another, from one line to another, and we get discouraged sometimes. God’s delay of our request may be a test of our patience.
To those of you who are going through difficult times right now, discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair, discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your requests, understand that the delay is NOT a denial. Patience reveals our faith in God’s timing, omnipotence, and love.
