In my sad experience, everything takes at least six
months. Losing weight, learning a new piano piece, getting the roof fixed. Just
about anything takes longer than you think. Patience is a virtue, also a
necessity. Yet sometimes patience interferes with mercy.
The
saying ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ refers to situations where patience
is applied to the wrong subject: to the oppressed rather than the oppressor.
The strong want patience, while the weak need mercy now. In the matter of
debts, for example, whether third world debts or welfare debts, extending
patience to the debtor is merciful in the creditor. The Lord’s prayer can read ‘forgive
us our debts as we forgive our debtors’ and yes, this means money.
Paul
believes a God of patience requires our patience towards one another, not demanding
too much speed. Some people may never be very speedy, too. But can we be too
patient with sincerely unjust convictions? That domestic violence is a husband’s
right, for example, or same-sex couples should be denied marriage? Should the
weak show patience with power and privilege?
The Lord is plenteous in mercy. When
in doubt, find mercy. Showing patience with injustice is only confusion
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