Be Patient as God is Patient!

1 Timothy 2:5-6

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.

Christian faith takes history seriously because it is a faith which was revealed, in the words of Evangelical theologian Francis Schaeffer “in time and on earth.”  Many people have noted similarities between the story of Christ and ancient myths such as Mithras, Osiris, or Balder.  This is true enough.  Myths, after all, draw on some of the deepest wellsprings of our humanness.  It is therefore silly to suppose that when God becomes human he should not drink from the same mythic wellsprings as we just as he drank from the same physical wellsprings as the villagers at Nazareth.  But it does not follow that because Osiris is a myth, Jesus is also a myth.  Rather, the story of Jesus took place not “once upon a time” but in a definite physical location during the tenure of a Roman prefect whose rule can be dated with a great deal of precision.  In short, God really entered history.  And he entered history “at the proper time.”  In the same way, God enters our personal history at the proper time.  This is important for us to recognize as we bear witness to him in the New Evangelization.  Shocking as it may sound, not every soul is at the same stage of ripeness to hear the gospel.  There are, to be sure, those who are ready to be picked right now.  But there are others who need more time, who need to put down roots, who need patience with watering, weeding, and tending before they will be able to hear the word of God in their souls.  So be patient, as God is patient.  He is Lord of the harvest — at the proper time.

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Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

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