OBEDIENCE

OBEDIENCE
To obey is “to
listen”
shema = Hebrew
hypakouo = Greek
obedientia = Latin

Listening to the voice of God is the first answer that the only Lord
waiting for.
Obedience is “yes” to plan of God , who has entrusted a particular task.
According to St. Augustine obedience is not the
foundation of monastic life- without doubt, in his
eyes it foundation is love- and yet for him
obedience is an essential support for the communal
life of the monastery”
Obedience towards God
St. Augustine often writes of the great good of
religious obedience in a broad sense.
His understanding is of a submission, to God and
His commandments.
Such obedience makes man like Jesus Christ, He
God and man, gave us unique example of
obedience. He came, not at all to do His own will,
but to serve the will of Him who had sent Him.
Obedience to God and
his commandments is
the way for the
rational creature to
true wisdom freedom
of heart.
“Father knew well that I trust only
on obedience so that whether you
give me or take from me, I will be
equally pleased…for the mercy of
God I understand well that in doing
God’s will lies my sanctification; so I
repeat again that it is only
obedience that helps me to do God’s
will… In front of God I am truly an
empty sack. I have nothing, done
nothing want nothing except to do
God’s will” (31st May 1844).
“ I have always
thrown myself In His
embrace repeating
that He is the Lord of
my soul and body ;
that without the grace
of Obedience I can
do nothing” (15th
July 1844)
“ I am always ready with the help of
God’s grace to obey become with the
help of obedience”.
Obedience is
the first act of
intellect
before it is an
act of the will .
St. Thomas Aquinas
Blind obedience is perfect
obedience