Our modern world has turned speed into a virtue. We can have almost anything instantly—whether it is a meal, a gadget, a garment, or entertainment streamed in seconds.
Convenience is now seen as a kind of right.
And yet, as Christians, we know that the most important things in life are not available "on demand." Love takes time. Virtue takes effort. Holiness takes a lifetime. Salvation is a journey of patience, perseverance, and trust in God's timing.
So why can't we just… wait?
So why can't we just… wait?
The Biblical Vision of Waiting
The Bible is full of waiting. In fact, waiting is woven into the very fabric of salvation history.
Abraham and Sarah waited decades for the promised child, Isaac.
The Israelites waited 400 years in Egypt for deliverance.
Moses waited 40 years in the desert before leading the people to the Promised Land.
The prophets waited for the coming of the Messiah.
Mary and Joseph waited in trust through uncertainty and danger.
The Apostles waited in the Upper Room for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
We read in the Psalms:
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning."
(Psalm 130:5–6, RSV-CE)
Notice the repetition. Waiting is not passive; it is active. It is an act of trust. It is a way of saying: I believe God is faithful, even if I do not yet see the answer.
The Spiritual Problem with Speed
Our culture's obsession with speed is not harmless. It reshapes the way we think and live.
1. Speed breeds impatience. We begin to expect instant results not only from shops and services, but also from relationships, prayer, and even from God Himself.
2. Speed leads to shallowness. Fast food rarely nourishes, fast fashion rarely lasts, and rushed prayer rarely touches the heart. The quicker we want everything, the less deeply we enter into anything.
3. Speed destroys gratitude. If everything is expected immediately, then nothing feels like a gift.
As Catholics, we are called to resist this cultural pressure. We are called to rediscover the sacredness of waiting.
The Gift of Patience
St. Paul lists patience as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22–23, RSV-CE)
Patience is not weakness. It is strength. It is the ability to endure delay without despair, to remain faithful even when prayers seem unanswered, to carry our crosses without demanding instant relief.
Patience is also an act of humility. It recognises that we are not in control of time—God is.
The Eucharist: Waiting at the Heart of Worship
Consider the Mass. Every Sunday, we gather and wait.
We wait in prayer before the liturgy begins.
We wait through the readings and homily before approaching the altar.
We wait in silence after Communion as Christ dwells within us.
The Eucharist itself is an anticipation—a waiting—for the heavenly banquet. Every time we receive the Body of Christ, we echo the words of St. Paul:
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, RSV-CE)
Our worship is rooted in waiting. It is not instant gratification. It is training in holy patience.
Lessons from Mary: The Woman Who Waited
No one demonstrates holy waiting more perfectly than Mary.
She waited nine months for the birth of Jesus.
She pondered things silently in her heart, without rushing to understand.
She waited in pain at the foot of the Cross.
She waited with the disciples for the Holy Spirit.
Mary shows us that waiting is not emptiness. It is a womb where God's promises take shape.
Practical Ways to Reclaim Waiting
How, then, can we resist the culture of immediacy and embrace the Catholic gift of patience?
1. Practise "slow prayer." Resist the temptation to rush through your Rosary or daily devotions. Linger on the words. Let silence do its work.
2. Fast from instant gratification. Choose, occasionally, the slower option—cook instead of ordering takeaway, walk instead of drive, read a book instead of scrolling.
3. Sanctify delays. When stuck in traffic, queuing, or waiting for news, whisper a prayer: Jesus, I trust in You. Turn irritation into intercession.
4. Reflect on God's timing. Keep a journal of prayers that were answered not instantly, but in God's perfect time. Let it remind you of His faithfulness.
A Culture Countered by the Cross
The Cross itself is a lesson in waiting. On Good Friday, the disciples wanted instant triumph. Instead, they were asked to wait. From Friday to Sunday, there was silence. From despair to joy, there was a gap.
Christian life always passes through this holy gap. We live in the "already and not yet." Christ has conquered death, and yet we still await the fullness of His Kingdom.
"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:25, RSV-CE)
The Cross teaches us: do not fear the silence, do not rush the story. God is still working.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You waited in silence before Pilate,
You waited in agony in the garden,
You waited in death within the tomb.
Teach us to wait with trust,
To resist the rush of this world,
To discover You in the pauses,
And to walk at the pace of grace.
Give us patience with others,
Patience with ourselves,
And patience with You,
Knowing that all things come in Your perfect time.
Amen.
Final Reflection
Click and collect in one hour.
Next day delivery.
Pizza in 30 minutes.
Express in 4 hours.
Fast food.
Fast fashion.
Yes, all of these things may have their place. But the most important things in life—the things that last into eternity—cannot be rushed.
As Catholics, we are called to rediscover the sacred rhythm of waiting. To let impatience die and patience grow. To remember that God does not deliver His graces by courier on our schedule—but in His own time, which is always best.
So the next time you are tempted to complain, to rush, to demand… stop. Ask yourself:
Why can't we just… wait?
The Bible is full of waiting. In fact, waiting is woven into the very fabric of salvation history.
Abraham and Sarah waited decades for the promised child, Isaac.
The Israelites waited 400 years in Egypt for deliverance.
Moses waited 40 years in the desert before leading the people to the Promised Land.
The prophets waited for the coming of the Messiah.
Mary and Joseph waited in trust through uncertainty and danger.
The Apostles waited in the Upper Room for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
We read in the Psalms:
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning."
(Psalm 130:5–6, RSV-CE)
Notice the repetition. Waiting is not passive; it is active. It is an act of trust. It is a way of saying: I believe God is faithful, even if I do not yet see the answer.
The Spiritual Problem with Speed
Our culture's obsession with speed is not harmless. It reshapes the way we think and live.
1. Speed breeds impatience. We begin to expect instant results not only from shops and services, but also from relationships, prayer, and even from God Himself.
2. Speed leads to shallowness. Fast food rarely nourishes, fast fashion rarely lasts, and rushed prayer rarely touches the heart. The quicker we want everything, the less deeply we enter into anything.
3. Speed destroys gratitude. If everything is expected immediately, then nothing feels like a gift.
As Catholics, we are called to resist this cultural pressure. We are called to rediscover the sacredness of waiting.
The Gift of Patience
St. Paul lists patience as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit:
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22–23, RSV-CE)
Patience is not weakness. It is strength. It is the ability to endure delay without despair, to remain faithful even when prayers seem unanswered, to carry our crosses without demanding instant relief.
Patience is also an act of humility. It recognises that we are not in control of time—God is.
The Eucharist: Waiting at the Heart of Worship
Consider the Mass. Every Sunday, we gather and wait.
We wait in prayer before the liturgy begins.
We wait through the readings and homily before approaching the altar.
We wait in silence after Communion as Christ dwells within us.
The Eucharist itself is an anticipation—a waiting—for the heavenly banquet. Every time we receive the Body of Christ, we echo the words of St. Paul:
"For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26, RSV-CE)
Our worship is rooted in waiting. It is not instant gratification. It is training in holy patience.
Lessons from Mary: The Woman Who Waited
No one demonstrates holy waiting more perfectly than Mary.
She waited nine months for the birth of Jesus.
She pondered things silently in her heart, without rushing to understand.
She waited in pain at the foot of the Cross.
She waited with the disciples for the Holy Spirit.
Mary shows us that waiting is not emptiness. It is a womb where God's promises take shape.
Practical Ways to Reclaim Waiting
How, then, can we resist the culture of immediacy and embrace the Catholic gift of patience?
1. Practise "slow prayer." Resist the temptation to rush through your Rosary or daily devotions. Linger on the words. Let silence do its work.
2. Fast from instant gratification. Choose, occasionally, the slower option—cook instead of ordering takeaway, walk instead of drive, read a book instead of scrolling.
3. Sanctify delays. When stuck in traffic, queuing, or waiting for news, whisper a prayer: Jesus, I trust in You. Turn irritation into intercession.
4. Reflect on God's timing. Keep a journal of prayers that were answered not instantly, but in God's perfect time. Let it remind you of His faithfulness.
A Culture Countered by the Cross
The Cross itself is a lesson in waiting. On Good Friday, the disciples wanted instant triumph. Instead, they were asked to wait. From Friday to Sunday, there was silence. From despair to joy, there was a gap.
Christian life always passes through this holy gap. We live in the "already and not yet." Christ has conquered death, and yet we still await the fullness of His Kingdom.
"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:25, RSV-CE)
The Cross teaches us: do not fear the silence, do not rush the story. God is still working.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
You waited in silence before Pilate,
You waited in agony in the garden,
You waited in death within the tomb.
Teach us to wait with trust,
To resist the rush of this world,
To discover You in the pauses,
And to walk at the pace of grace.
Give us patience with others,
Patience with ourselves,
And patience with You,
Knowing that all things come in Your perfect time.
Amen.
Final Reflection
Click and collect in one hour.
Next day delivery.
Pizza in 30 minutes.
Express in 4 hours.
Fast food.
Fast fashion.
Yes, all of these things may have their place. But the most important things in life—the things that last into eternity—cannot be rushed.
As Catholics, we are called to rediscover the sacred rhythm of waiting. To let impatience die and patience grow. To remember that God does not deliver His graces by courier on our schedule—but in His own time, which is always best.
So the next time you are tempted to complain, to rush, to demand… stop. Ask yourself:
Why can't we just… wait?
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