Need we patience?

During pursuing my theological studies, there was a subject on "moral theology". May God have mercy on Fr. Ramzi Ni'meh--who was from the Taybeh township, Ramallah--who made us enjoy this subject as we avidly looked forward to the lectures as we contributed to the drafting of the pamphlets.

Among the beautiful things that I learned was relevant to "virtue" which is defined as "the constant readiness to follow the path of goodness”. Palto defined it as “the knowledge of good and acting upon it.”

Virtues are of two kinds. The first one is supernatural implying that the divine power is its source and whose direct target is faith, grace, and love. The second type is the moral virtues, which are guided by the mind, and they provide the means by which humans can follow the path that agrees with the wish of the Almighty God.

Among the most important virtues are acumen, justice, contentment and courage. But we must comprehend this in terms of “spiritual struggle” against the forces of sin, rather than in terms of human courage that stems from boldness and strength of character. Among the offshoots of the virtue of courage is magnanimity that emanates from noble people. We, in Jordan, sometimes combine the adjective "magnanimous" with the "nashmi" which has become a character of the Jordanians including perseverance, persistence, and patience.

I have often mulled over this virtue, namely patience. It is not a transient poetic word. The Holy Bible states that God is "patient and extremely merciful." The Bible relates the personality of Job, who was afflicted with calamities as a model reflecting an everlasting example of endurance and patience; that is why a term frequently used, namely "the patience of Job". Poets wrote about this and singers sang relevant songs in an expression of their endurance to the abandonment of a patient lover.

Patience is one of the most important and necessary virtues, because the calamities and suffering that a person suffers from occur all the time and in every place. Therefore, we do not hesitate to say: We need patience in our present time, just as we need water, food, air, medicine and healing.

In the past two years, humanity suffered from a deadly pandemic which made the universal family share pain, in the same way as they nowadays share hope. Families have mourned the separation of loved ones who passed away, and one of the expressed words of condolences are, “May God grant you patience and solace.” With students graduating from schools and from universities, they need patience. When people look for jobs it is always said, "Patience is the key to relief." In the face of economic difficulties, the increase in rates of poverty and unemployment, and the negative impact of Corona pandemic the need for patience rises in our time and in our discernment of a “safe summer” and of a promising future.

Surely, with hardship comes ease. Let us always remember that when suffering is experienced in the company of friends it becomes easier and closer to the attainment of solutions. “Let us bear each other’s burdens,” and let us proceed towards a new tomorrow with renewed hearts and great patience.

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