Monday 17 February

James 1:1-11; Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mark 8:11-13

Patience!

In his definition of love (1 Corinthians 13), St Paul puts patience on the top shelf. It is the first and most vital ingredient. The Letter of James opens with a similar conviction, telling us that a practical result of patience is to “become fully developed, complete, lacking nothing”.

Those with patience have deep inner peace. They may not have everything they need or would like, but neither are they disturbed or anxious. They are complete in themselves. Patience is faith in action; that’s why love is empty without it.