“You will receive a greater reward for your obedience and subjection to your confessor than you will for the practices which you will be carrying out. Know this, My daughter, and act accordingly: anything, no matter how small it be, that has the seal of obedience to My representative is pleasing to Me and great in My eyes.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 933
One of the greatest safeguards against doing our own will rather than God’s is holy obedience. Obedience must be lived in every life. Obedience is achieved in many ways. It’s achieved in family life when we submit our will to the preferences of others, subjecting ourselves in a form of obedience so as to foster love and unity. For those of us who are blessed by the Sacrament of Marriage, we are offered every day an opportunity to surrender our will to the needs and desires of another. Within a holy family and marriage we are given an easy path to submissive obedience.
As a husband and father, I have had the best classroom of holy obedience. In marriage I’ve had to surrender my desires and whims to that of my wife. This holy obedience has taught me to overcome anger and temper. Obedience to my wife has drawn my closer to God through submission as I’ve given up worldly desires to do things for my wife.
As a father, anyone who is a parent knows the depth of obedience it takes. No, we don’t follow our kids’ orders but we must obediently surrender our desires to their holy needs. The 3 AM feedings, diaper changes, shutting off the TV to listen to their day’s event are all forms of obedience.
Obedience is also achieved in a profound way when we submit our will to the voice and teaching of our Church. We will never go wrong by living holy obedience to that which the Lord speaks through His Church. When we live this obedience, the Will of God will not be imposed upon us from outside; rather, we will hear Him speak first in our heart and then it will be confirmed exteriorly.
Do you hear God calling you, gently and subtly, to submit to the preference of another? There are numerous opportunities each day to die to yourself and “obediently” embrace the will of God through another. If you can submit to holy obedience of another, you will begin to hear the Will of God, you will see the gates of Mercy opened and your humble submission will bring you great holiness.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5