We live in a time where everything is instant: streaming on demand shows & movies, digital downloads, Amazon Prime, DoorDash, etc. We don’t want to wait. Then, when our 2-day Amazon Prime or DoorDash delivery is late, we’re upset. Being upset leads to a poor mindset that can then be taken out on others; not a good chain of reaction.
When things don’t go the way we desire, whether in our digital and commercial consumption, in the work place, or even in daily interactions, we look for reasons or people to blame. However, we should be looking inward. To me, when situations like these occur, it’s a time to pause and turn to God; he may be trying to teach us something.
In Sunday’s gospel we read the parable of the mustard seed: it’s one of the smallest seeds that grows into one of the largest plants…. but it takes time! There is no guarantee when it will fully mature; it’s completely up to God.
When things don’t go our way in life, or we realize that we were wrong in a situation, it’s an opportunity to focus on our own humility and patience. These are two things that I know of which I need more in my life. I’m always trying to knock out as many things as possible on my to do list and can become frustrated when something gets in the way or pulls me aside.
Our journey to heaven is not completed by knocking out items on a to do list, it’s about “aspiring to please God” as we read in the second reading from St. Paul. However, doing the things that please God take time. Our journey to heaven is one step at a time filled with patience and humility for those around us. Let’s take this week to slow down and find opportunities to be more humble and patient in our daily routines.
