The virtue of patience

God exists outside the time-dimension. That is how I understand death as a passage to eternity. Through death, we exit the time-dimension to return to Him. All our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Confucius have passed over to the other side of existence. That is why Jesus claimed that God is not God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27) 
God has a different time frame. Eternity appears but a single point to Him. That is what Peter wrote concerning God's eternity.
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).
Peter was probably referring to the following Psalm.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4).
God operates in a time scale different from ours. That is why James appeals to us to be patient, firstly like the farmers (James 5:7-8), then like the prophets (James 5:10) and at last, like Job (James 5:11). That probably is the origin of the English idiom "as patient as Job". Now, how does one demonstrate his patience?
Consistent with his advice on taming the tongue in chapter 3, James told his community not to grumble. Hold your tongue to demonstrate your patience. Otherwise, the Lord's judgment will descend on you because you have not demonstrated enough faith in His promises.
Do not grumble, brethren, against one another, that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the doors (James 5:9).
Peter explains why God does not take immediate actions. He gives us chances to repent.
The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Is James' advice absolute, in the sense that it is an official Church pronouncement? Even so, history is littered with instances where members grumbled. When teachers in Lai King Catholic grumbled, the Catholic Education Office (CEO) moved the principal to Shung Tak. Six years later, when teachers and parents of Shung Tak grumbled, CEO moves the principal once more to Ng Wah College, giving him yet another chance to turn back, to repent. CEO is playing God. This seems to be a very much consistent practice in the Catholic Church. She moves paedophile priests from one parish to another, never bringing them to justice. I am in no position to pass judgment on this practice, though obviously, it costs the Catholic Church millions of dollars as well as faithful. Once again, we can only look up to God who is able to work good out of evils.

My Advocate, You have a heavy schedule to educate our hearts. As for our part, we need to be patient to allow You to work things out, to allow things to run their full course. Meanwhile, let us grow older and wiser. Our Lady, you have always been a model of patience. Allow us to follow your example to surrender yourself, to say fiat to God. Amen.