Patience isn't easy

Jesus talked about His death, saying, "Unless a piece of wheat dies, it's just a piece of wheat. But if it dies -- if it's harvested and made into food -- it helps many people. I'm worried about dying, but that's why I came into the world. When I'm lifted up to heaven, I'll pull everyone on earth closer to me."

It's hard for kids to be patient. If you're hungry and your mom is making dinner, you probably drive her nuts complaining, "I'm starving!"

You wish that dinner was ready right now, not in half an hour; you don't understand why you can't eat something else instead; you think your mother should just turn up the stove so the food cooks faster. Who wants to be patient?

The people Jesus taught would understand how you feel. They had a hard time being patient, too -- especially about Jesus saving the world. They wanted Him to take over like a king, right away. In this week's Gospel (John 12:20-33), He teaches them about patience.

When you're hungry, being patient isn't your first choice! If you think about it, you know that turning up the stove will burn the food, not make it cook faster. But you just want to eat!

Jesus' followers wanted things to happen right away, too. Jesus told them He couldn't just take over the world; not everyone believed in Him, so it would be hard to be king!

Like waiting for dinner -- or waiting for wheat to grow and making it into bread -- Jesus said people had to wait for Him to do things His own way. He had to die to save the world so people would believe in Him.

Then, like a good dinner, things would turn out "deliciously" well.

(04-03-03) [[In-content Ad]]