What is Obedience?

In the Gospel of Saint John 14:24 Jesus says, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.  My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” We hear a lot about obedience these days, but what is really?

Obedience is an expression of our love for God. More than good works, more than the noblest intentions.

The Letter to the Hebrews states that Obedience is an act of faith. (Heb 11:8). Jesus, at the outset of his passion manifested his attitude of obedience to the Father’s will, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.” (Lk 22,42)

The term ‘obedience’ is derived from the Latin term, ‘oboe dire’ means to listen intently, to open one’s ears, to heed in practice. Obedience is “a moral virtue that inclines the will to comply with the will of another who has the right to command.”  According to St. Thomas (II-II, q. 104), obedience is a special virtue, related to justice, by which we pay our superiors a special honor which is due to them by reason of their excellence of authority, namely, the fulfilling of their precepts or commands.” Therefore, a person who is rooted in obedience submits his will to the one who possesses legitimate authority over him.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses the virtue of obedience as a duty. “The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.” (1900)

Obedience proceeds from charity and reverence for the authority of the superior to rule for the common good under God as supreme ruler. This is the proper reason why every superior should be diligently obeyed. The common good, which is our true and higher good, cannot be obtained without obedience. Just imagine a society without obedience.

With our practice of obedience, the Lord promises fullness of life, perfection, favor with the Lord, out of obedience.  Moreover, by obeying, we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis, in his homily said that, “Jesus is not the testimonial of an idea, of a philosophy, of a company, of a bank or of power: he is a testimonial of obedience”, hence, “Christian is a witness of obedience; if we are not on this path and growing in our witness we are not Christians. We must at least walk this way.”

So, we should pray to the Holy Spirit for the grace of Obedience; He will give us the power. We should also pray to be humble because a humble person will recognize the authority of God given to our superiors. We all know that God has rules and we should obey them. But God has also given legitimate authority to anointed individuals, in the Church (Pope, Bishops, Pastors, Priests..), and in our society ( President, Civil authorities…). Grow in your ability to listen attentively to others, avoid being too presumptuous.

So, obedience is a virtue to be admired, but we are not obliged to follow when morality is compromised and injustice is recognized. God bless you.

Father Stephen Mondiek