A Lent of Patience

The great and hope-filled season of Lent begins this week on Ash Wednesday, February 18. The ashes come from burning previous years’ palms. They remind us of our good intentions to welcome Jesus as the crowds did a few days before his Crucifixion. But we know that time, the demands of our responsibilities, our distractions, and our struggles can make those desires to have the Lord central in our lives seem to wither and turn to dust.

Yet God makes a new beginning precisely from our disappointments and weariness. “Come to me,” Jesus says, “and I will give you rest.” To come to Christ in stillness, prayer, and trust takes patience.

As stated in the Lent letter, impatience often leads to words we later regret, neglect of the needs and feelings of the people around us, and anger that can escalate even to harming another in our frustration.

A Lent of Patience invites us to use these 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert preparing for his public ministry to grow in this virtue. When we are used to instant results, 24/7 news, and overly frenetic schedules, Lent’s focus on slowing down and changing our patterns and attitudes can be a time of true renewal in our daily habits and outlook.

“Patience” comes from the same Latin root as “passion” and “passive,” literally pointing to the capacity to suffer – to suffer disappointment, delay, human weakness and poor judgment (our own and others’), and the surrender of control. As a virtue, patience grows from repeated and active choices to control our tongues, limit our exposure to things that aggravate our spirits, and focus on the eternal Word of God that does not pass away.

Each of us has things that try our patience. Those are the areas for us to direct our efforts this Lent. Any penance we choose that is easy to do or guaranteed to succeed is probably not here we really need to change. Pick a true challenge in your life and pray, fast, and give of yourself to allow God to help you.

What might we do concretely to grow in the virtue of patience? Consider some of these:

Listen attentively before you speak; listen more than you speak

Assume positive intentions from others, even when they get on your nerves

Be intentional about quiet in your home, vehicle, or other places where you can control the noise

Limit screen time and choose content wisely. So much of our tension and anxiety comes from consuming negative messages that reinforce our sense of stress and even panic. Be informed but not inflamed by the news

Allow extra time for your commute, errands, and tasks. When we are in a hurry, even the speed of light seems too slow.

Forgive others for their faults and insensitive words and actions; and if needed, apologize to others for your own words and actions that cause them hurt

Add five minutes of silence to whatever prayer time you currently invest

Each day of Lent, slow down to reflect on one or two blessings you have experienced that day, and keep a running list

To observe the five Sundays of Lent, give away five things you don’t need that can benefit another

May this season in which we conform ourselves more fully to the Paschal Mystery of Jesus – dying to ourselves that we may rise anew in him – bear abundant fruit in each of your lives.