Advent Meditation for Friday, December 3rd

Don't let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and live.    2 Peter 3: 8-9Peter's letter encourages those who are impatient for "the coming day of God (v 3:13) and for a "new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."  It's hard to be patient when there is so much suffering and injustice in the world--God's beautiful creation marred by greed.  If God is so unimaginably powerful, this unfathomable cosmic creator, why does God allow such suffering and injustice to happen?  We are impatient for change, but we cannot possibly comprehend God's time, which is infinite.  But, Peter says, patience leads to godliness (v 1:6) and ultimately to love.  When we change our hearts and embrace love, we can realize God's promise to "share the divine nature" (v 1:4) and use this gift to make our world a better place.Dear God, help us to be patient and to accept and trust the mystery of your Plan.  Help us to change our hearts and be filled with your love so that we can share the healing balm of your divine nature with our troubled world.  DP