Obedience

            For April, my study assignment for my Dominican Lay Community was to study the Evangelical Counsels and reflect on them.  The Counsels are Obedience, Voluntary Poverty and Chastity.  Here is a summary of my reflections:

            While St. Thomas says that the perfection of Christian life consists radically in charity, at this point in my spiritual journey, perfection consists in radical obedience to God. Conforming my will to God’s, or being obedient to him, is my most difficult task.  I’ve now come to understand that it is only when I am obedient that I am able to do the work He has for me.

             Somehow, obedience in big things tends to be easier than obedience to the little things.  I gain great encouragement from reading the lives of the saints. I am currently reading about St. Faustina and her daily struggles with health, jealously, courage and a multitude of other challenges. It helps me to understand that if a woman who is gifted with such an intimate relationship with Jesus struggles, then I will also struggle.

            St. Therese and her “little way” is a great example of how important it is to give up my own desires and will each day as the Lord uses my actions to bring joy and comfort to others.  The example of St. Therese leads me to discover God’s love in my life. My greatest example is Mary, the Mother of God, who is the perfect example of obedience.

            Obedience is not a popular word today.  The modern woman does not want to be obedient to anything or anyone.  Being a child of the 1970’s, the culture taught me that I should grow up to be independent, have a career that brings me wealth and status and allows me to do what I want, when I want and marry and have children, if I want. Fortunately, my parents also made sure that I attended church regularly and went to Sunday School. It was there that I learned to listen to the voice of the Lord and to be perceptive to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

            As I pray prior to communion for God to conform my will to His, I certainly can see improvement in my obedience to Him. I also see how far I must go to even approach the outskirts of perfection.

 

            My motivation for obedience is love for Christ.  (Luke 10:27) He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  And so maybe St. Thomas is right, that the perfection of Christian life consists radically in charity.  It is only because of my love for God and His love for me that I am able to progress in obedience.