WE need to understand better the true nature of
obedience,
appreciate its inner nuances, grow in our conviction of its necessity,
fruitfulness and its intimate relation to our freedom.
Nowadays, this virtue is grossly misunderstood, its
caricatures better known than its objective reality. It’s generally
known to be a burden rather than a liberating constituent element in
our life. We need to reclaim its proper place in our personal and
collective lives, because without it we would actually undermine our
very own humanity.
Yes, this virtue is indispensable in our life. We are
actually created to obey, because first and last we need to obey God,
and then also, we need to obey those who have some authority over us
in our earthly life.
That’s because we can’t help but live with others, and
there will always be others with some authority over us—parents,
teachers, public officials, even policemen, etc.—whom we have to obey.
In short, we cannot outgrow the need for obedience. The
moment we feel we can do without it, we start heading the wrong way in
our life. A lot of evils come as a consequence. All kinds of disorder
follow, from the material to the moral and spiritual aspects. But if
we obey, we would also generate a lot of good.
We have to do everything to polish and sharpen our sense
of obedience, especially as we head toward maturity since the years
tend to deaden our need for it. We have to be more aware of those
factors that tend to dull our duty to obey.
In fact, the older we get, and the more accomplished and
experienced we feel we are, the sharper should be our sense of
obedience and more attentive to its finer demands.
Otherwise, we would simply spoil whatever achievements we
have gained. It’s like we are gaining ground on the outside but losing
ground on the inside, an echo of “what does it profit a man if he
gains the whole world but loses his soul.” A terrible collapse would
just be a matter of time.
We need to be strongly reminded about this, since we have
to contend with formidable undermining forces—culture, lifestyle,
media, the scandalous examples of many in politics, business, and even
in the church. We have to be ready to do continuing constructive
battle of peace and love in this area.
The model for all this is Christ who frequently said, “My
food is to do the will of my Father.” And he did so all the way to the
cross. Thus, St. Paul said that Christ was obedient until death.
Our obedience should be anchored first of all on the will
of God as exemplified by Christ himself. We don’t obey simply because
we like the person who gives us orders, or because the order seems
reasonable, practical, profitable, etc. We should obey because it is
the will of God. Besides, we have to obey because that is really a
constituent part of our nature.
This should not be merely blind obedience. It should be
knowingly and freely—in fact, lovingly—done. Even if we don’t
understand the wisdom of what is being asked of us, which is what
often happens, as long as it is the will of God, or as long as nothing
else can be done, we just have to obey.
This was what happened to Christ. When it was not yet his
time to die, he managed to escape from those who intended to attack
him. But when it was already his time, as determined by his Father, he
willingly faced his arrest and all the other indignities all the way
to the cross.
There are times when we have to obey in circumstances that
are truly unfair. In this situation, we just have to call to mind
Christ’s crucifixion. There could have been no greater injustice than
that, but Christ obeyed.
As long as we obey mainly out of love of God, then
everything will just work out for the good, no matter how unfair,
unreasonable, impractical the circumstances may be. With Christ’s
crucifixion, what was attained was nothing less than our own
salvation.
Obedience is always fruitful, though it may come in forms
contrary to our own expectations. St. Peter’s obedience to Christ in
going out to the deep and lowering his net for a catch yielded a
tremendous amount of fish when the night before he caught nothing.
Let’s polish our sense of obedience. Aside from being
intelligent and voluntary, it should be prompt and cheerful, for God
rewards a cheerful giver.
appreciate its inner nuances, grow in our conviction of its necessity,
fruitfulness and its intimate relation to our freedom.
Nowadays, this virtue is grossly misunderstood, its
caricatures better known than its objective reality. It’s generally
known to be a burden rather than a liberating constituent element in
our life. We need to reclaim its proper place in our personal and
collective lives, because without it we would actually undermine our
very own humanity.
Yes, this virtue is indispensable in our life. We are
actually created to obey, because first and last we need to obey God,
and then also, we need to obey those who have some authority over us
in our earthly life.
That’s because we can’t help but live with others, and
there will always be others with some authority over us—parents,
teachers, public officials, even policemen, etc.—whom we have to obey.
In short, we cannot outgrow the need for obedience. The
moment we feel we can do without it, we start heading the wrong way in
our life. A lot of evils come as a consequence. All kinds of disorder
follow, from the material to the moral and spiritual aspects. But if
we obey, we would also generate a lot of good.
We have to do everything to polish and sharpen our sense
of obedience, especially as we head toward maturity since the years
tend to deaden our need for it. We have to be more aware of those
factors that tend to dull our duty to obey.
In fact, the older we get, and the more accomplished and
experienced we feel we are, the sharper should be our sense of
obedience and more attentive to its finer demands.
Otherwise, we would simply spoil whatever achievements we
have gained. It’s like we are gaining ground on the outside but losing
ground on the inside, an echo of “what does it profit a man if he
gains the whole world but loses his soul.” A terrible collapse would
just be a matter of time.
We need to be strongly reminded about this, since we have
to contend with formidable undermining forces—culture, lifestyle,
media, the scandalous examples of many in politics, business, and even
in the church. We have to be ready to do continuing constructive
battle of peace and love in this area.
The model for all this is Christ who frequently said, “My
food is to do the will of my Father.” And he did so all the way to the
cross. Thus, St. Paul said that Christ was obedient until death.
Our obedience should be anchored first of all on the will
of God as exemplified by Christ himself. We don’t obey simply because
we like the person who gives us orders, or because the order seems
reasonable, practical, profitable, etc. We should obey because it is
the will of God. Besides, we have to obey because that is really a
constituent part of our nature.
This should not be merely blind obedience. It should be
knowingly and freely—in fact, lovingly—done. Even if we don’t
understand the wisdom of what is being asked of us, which is what
often happens, as long as it is the will of God, or as long as nothing
else can be done, we just have to obey.
This was what happened to Christ. When it was not yet his
time to die, he managed to escape from those who intended to attack
him. But when it was already his time, as determined by his Father, he
willingly faced his arrest and all the other indignities all the way
to the cross.
There are times when we have to obey in circumstances that
are truly unfair. In this situation, we just have to call to mind
Christ’s crucifixion. There could have been no greater injustice than
that, but Christ obeyed.
As long as we obey mainly out of love of God, then
everything will just work out for the good, no matter how unfair,
unreasonable, impractical the circumstances may be. With Christ’s
crucifixion, what was attained was nothing less than our own
salvation.
Obedience is always fruitful, though it may come in forms
contrary to our own expectations. St. Peter’s obedience to Christ in
going out to the deep and lowering his net for a catch yielded a
tremendous amount of fish when the night before he caught nothing.
Let’s polish our sense of obedience. Aside from being
intelligent and voluntary, it should be prompt and cheerful, for God
rewards a cheerful giver.
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