It Takes Time

  

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/123017.cfm) reminds me that great things takes time. 

Nothing great happens overnight. 

Athletes train for years to reach their full potential. A tree takes years growing its roots to become a strong and mighty tree. No tree grows overnight, and no athlete gets to top condition in an hour. It takes time, effort, hard work and patience to get to their full potential. This is what God wants us to remember.

If we want God’s best, we have to learn how to wait.

In the gospel, the prophetess Anna never left the temple and prayed day and night. Wild! Solid! Imagine her love for God.  It took time, effort and patience to be where she is – spiritually. It did not happen overnight, but when she saw Jesus, it was well worth it. Also, we see that Jesus did not become a wise man overnight. It took him 30 years of growing, learning, waiting, before God told him to start his ministry. That time is necessary to grow, improve, and build a strong foundation. But when God’s plans come into fruition, it will be all worth it.

God’s best takes time.

We all have prayers we want to happen. There are still unanswered prayers until now. We are waiting for different things – promotion at work, break in our career or business, or that prayer we have been asking God. It is very hard to wait, we want things done right away. We want God’s plans to happen right away. We feel we are ready. And looking at others makes it worse – we feel envious that they seem to have more than us, or that God’s best is given them already. We don’t know God’s reason, but we just need to trust his wisdom.

God cannot give us what we cannot handle – be it problems or blessings. Some people get things right away because they do it their way, they do it the world’s way which sometimes result to problems since they’re not ready. We need to wait for God’s perfect timing. And while we do, we just need to do our part, to be patient and do our best to prepare for great blessings will send our way.

What things am I praying for? Why do I want them so much? What is God telling me? What should be my reaction while I still don’t have them? How should I prepare myself while waiting for God’s time?

May we always remember that great things take time, and learn to trust God and his timing. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the weekend. Lord, I pray that you help me be patient. It’s hard, Lord, because I want things to happen my way. It’s hard because I sometimes feel that I am ready. It’s hard because I feel I should be given it. Sorry for being impatient Lord. Sorry for feeling that my timing is better than yours. Help me just trust in you. Help me have faith in you. I surrender and let you have control of my life. While I wait, I will do my best to prepare, work hard, and be faithful to you. And I have faith that in your perfect time, your best will come. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 30, 2017

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lectionary: 203

Reading 1 1 Jn 2:12-17

I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name's sake.

I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.

I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.

Do not love the world or the things of the world.
If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,
is not from the Father but is from the world.
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.
But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:36-40

There was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.