Patience

Fr. Scott Haynes

A Meditation on Acts 5:34–42

But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while. And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain, and all that believed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing. After this man, rose up Judas the Galilean, in the days of the enrolment, and drew away the people after him: and he also perished, and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed. And now therefore I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought; But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him. And calling in the apostles, after they had scourged them, they charged them that they should not speak at all in the name of Jesus; and dismissed them. And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.

And every day they ceased not in the temple, and from house to house, to teach and preach Christ Jesus.

Gamaliel’s words can also be read as a lesson in holy patience. Not every question is answered in an instant. Not every work reveals its true nature on the first day. There are things that only time uncovers. A tree is known by its fruit, but fruit does not appear the moment the seed enters the earth. In the same way, movements, plans, desires, and even spiritual impulses must often be tested by endurance.

This is true not only in public matters, but in the hidden life of the soul. We can become restless and anxious, wanting to force results, force clarity, force success. We want immediate signs that our efforts are blessed by God. Yet many of God’s works begin quietly. They grow in silence. They deepen through trials. They are purified by contradiction. A thing may look weak in its beginnings and still be full of heaven.

What is merely human often depends on applause, momentum, and visible triumph. Once it is denied attention, it fades. But what is of God can survive misunderstanding, delay, and suffering. In fact, these often purify it. The apostles were beaten, threatened, and shamed, yet the work did not die. Why? Because the life within it was not borrowed from men. It came from God.

So there is comfort here for anyone trying to be faithful in a difficult calling. If the work you are doing is truly offered to God, you do not need to be consumed by fear. You do not need to panic at every obstacle. Opposition does not always mean failure. Delay does not always mean abandonment.

Sometimes God allows His work to be tested precisely so that its divine strength may be revealed.

The moral lesson is this: let God prove what is from Him. Be faithful, patient, and sincere. Do not measure everything by immediate success. What is built on human pride will fall in time. What is rooted in God may pass through fire, but it will stand.