We will continue to reflect on the virtue of patience, since it is a key virtue in our journey to greater holiness. St. Peter said: "Esteem it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trying of your faith begets patience." St. Therese builds on this when she says: "If we bear slight things patiently, we shall acquire courage and strength to bear great things."

We want instant gratification and instant results. It is a sign of our need to be in total control of our life and its circumstances. But the truth is we are not in total control. We get impatient when things do not go the way we want. We get impatient when we are inconvenienced. We forget that we are not God and the world doesn't revolve around us.

The virtue of patience enables us to embrace the truth of who we are and who we are not. It gives us many opportunities to live out the reality of our existence in relationship to God and others. Impatience is the expression of our fallen nature and our imperfect will. While the virtue of patience enables us to embrace the will of God for us in the present moment. Since it is a virtue, I have to develop it and at the same time be open to the grace of God which enables me to grow in this virtue. 

Our prayer should not be: "Lord, let me grow in patience, but make it happen now." Rather it should be: "Lord, let me grow in patience in your time and by your grace and by my response."