Obedience
Obedience for laity is different and perhaps more difficult than for religious, as we do not take vows of obedience to a superior. We are called to be obedient to Holy Mother Church and to do the will of God, which can at times be difficult to discern. We should be like Jesus who took all things to prayer. We need to strive for purity of intention in decisions, and through prayer God's will becomes apparent if we can listen to the gentle whispers of the Spirit.
Frequently we find ourselves involved in various committees and community boards and pulled in many directions. Through prayer we can better discern God's will and reflect on our motives: Is it my pride that I do all these things, or is it God's will? Saint Faustina was always obedient, even if it involved humiliation. The Lord also emphasized that obedience means more to Him than sacrifice or burnt offerings. He told her, My daughter, you please Me more by ... obedience and love of Me than by fasting and mortifying yourself of your own will. A soul that loves Me very much must, ought to live by My will. I know your heart, and I know that it will not be satisfied by anything but My love alone (Diary, 1023).
On one occasion, Faustina was told by her confessor of the need to be obedient. Later she wrote, "I became absorbed in prayer and said my penance. Then I suddenly saw the Lord, who said to me, My daughter, know that you give greater glory by a single act of obedience than by long prayers and mortifications. Oh, how good it is to live under obedience, to live conscious of the fact that everything I do is pleasing to God!" (Diary, 894).
Obedience means not seeing our will as paramount, but recognizing and doing the will of God. When the Sadducees and priests told John and Peter not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, they knew what they had to do. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4: 19-20).
The ultimate example of obedience comes from the Lord, "And being found in human form, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8). Reflect on the bitter and painful Passion and the obedience of Christ to the will of the Father. Imagine His deep sorrow when He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not what I want but what you want" (Mt 26:39).
Even as a child, Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary. "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them" (Lk 2:51). Scripture is filled with beautiful passages on the necessity of obedience to parents. In Sirach 3: 19 it is written, "Listen to Me, your Father, 0 children; and act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety. For the Lord honored the Father above the children, and He confirmed the right of the mother over her sons. Whoever honors his Father atones for sins and whoever glorifies his mother is like one who lays up treasure. Whoever honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays he will be heard. Whoever glorifies his father will have long life, and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his mother; he will serve his parents as his masters.
Honor your father by word and deed, that a blessing from him may come upon you. For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children, but a mother’s curse uproots their foundations" (Sir 3:1-9). And in Ephesians 6:14, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother, (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
Obedience to Holy Mother Church is necessary, even if we disagree with a particular church teaching. In that situation, we, should pray for the grace of understanding and acceptance. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). We should ask our Lord to take the scales off our eyes so we can believe, for "In the path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death" (Prov 12:28).
Obedience is more pleasing to God than sacrifice, and we need to pray earnestly for wisdom and strength to live in His will and not our own will. Just as our Lord came to do the will of the Father, we must be obedient and try to do only the Lord's will. Jesus told Saint Faustina, Yes, when you are obedient I take away your weakness and replace it with My strength. I am very surprised that souls do not want to make that exchange with Me (Diary, 381).
In summary, discernment through prayer as to God's will is essential if we are to be obedient. He values obedience more than sacrifice or offering. May we learn through prayer and the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit what His will is for us in our lives.
Come Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit.
Let me listen instead of doing all the talking.
Replace my anxiety with a calm confidence and my fear with a
deeper faith.
Give me the grace to follow your prompting and to do Your will
and not mine.
Give me Your gifts of knowledge, counsel and wisdom and
Take away my fear, anxiety, shame and self-doubt.
Let me live in You and You in me.
Amen.