Obedience

Importance of Obedience 

Why is it important to be obedient, even while we go through trials?  This is a very important question, for the Lord has shown us the importance of this virtue, and all of us go through many trials in this world.  We could believe that the Holy Spirit tells us often, "Listen to My Words and obey," and particularly when we go through trials.  Since trials are always present, how can this virtue assist us in this spiritual battle we are constantly fighting?  

We must put ourselves in the hands of God, and do what He commands, and we will be free.  Obedience invites us to put someone else's needs (whether that be God or our neighbor) before our own.  This virtue suggests for us to do what the other wants before we do what we want.

"Lord, what is it that you want me to do?"  This is a question that we probably ask often, particularly during moments of trials.  When we ask that question with an open heart, we will find that the Lord, our Savior, will give us the Light to understand how to overcome our temptations and trials.  When He does, we must do what the Lord would ask of us, and not believe that what we think we should say or do will be better.

Doing God's Will through Obedience

And what about our dealings with our "neighbors?"  At times we may experience trials through our neighbors, because their needs may be contrary to our own.  During these times, we must be obedient to the maxims and teachings of Christ Jesus our Lord to be able to overcome these temptations as well.  "If I, therefore, the Master and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet." (Jn 13:14)  If our neighbor asks us to do something, we should consider doing that, inasmuch as what they ask is not a sin.  "For you were called for freedom, brothers.  But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely, 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"(Gal 5:13-14)  We can obey anything that is not contrary to God, or to His commandments, and in obeying we are serving, for true service goes together with obedience.  "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of Mine, you did for Me." (Mt. 25:40)

This obedience in what is asked of us is very pleasing to God, and many times we will find that we are doing the Will of God.  Whenever we practice a virtue, such as obedience, we are doing God's Will, for God wills us to be virtuous, as Jesus, Mary, and the saints have all been.  The enemy cannot deal with someone who is obedient, because this obedient person is someone who seeks to do not what he/she wants, but what God asks, and seeks the Will of God in his/her neighbors, where it is more easily found than within us.  We find God's Will more easily through our neighbor than within us because self-will, which is what I want to do, as oppose to what someone else wants, goes against the Will of God.  Let us ask the Lord to give us an obedient heart, because the person who obeys is a true servant of God and His people.  "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.  Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many."(Mt. 20: 26b-28)

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