Monastery Bell A Part of Our Obedience to God's Call

Obedience

January 22, 2005 Obedience The Rule of St. Benedict: Chapter 5: On Obedience
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ; who, because of the holy service they have professed, and the fear of hell, and the glory of life everlasting, as soon as anything has been ordered by the Superior, receive it as a divine command and cannot suffer any delay in executing it. Of these the Lord says, "As soon as he heard, he obeyed Me" (Ps. 17:45). And again to teachers He says,
"He who hears you, hears Me" (Luke 10:16).

Such as these, therefore, immediately leaving their own affairs and forsaking their own will, dropping the work they were engaged on and leaving it unfinished, with the ready step of obedience follow up with their deeds the voice of him who commands. And so as it were at the same moment the master's command is given and the disciple's work is completed, the two things being speedily accomplished together in the swiftness of the fear of God by those who are moved with the desire of attaining life everlasting. That desire is their motive for choosing the narrow way, of which the Lord says, "Narrow is the way that leads to life" (Matt. 7:14), so that,
not living according to their own choice nor obeying their own desires and pleasures but walking by another's judgment and command, they dwell in monasteries and desire to have an Abbot over them. Assuredly such as these are living up to that maxim of the Lord in which He says, "I have come not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (John 6:38).

Obedience is a matter of the heart. When the heart is open and in the right place, the actions follow swiftly and easily often. There are times when it is more difficult to be obedient to the monastery Superior and thus to God. There are most often works that I am in total agreement with but from time to time there is something where it is in my heart and mind to do a work in a totally different way than what I am being told.

It takes a real leap of faith to put aside my personal desires, opinions and leanings and to follow the way that I have agreed to live under. Of course there are many situations when there is a "give and take" communication of views and options but ultimately I have agreed that the prioress is my Superior and that to be obedient to her is to be obedient to God. I am also under a Rule that calls me to be obedient to my fellow Sisters. Many times I learn more by having the open door to others directions. It really is a matter of being totally present to others and truly listening.

I need to easily let go of my own way as being the only way and humbly accept that there are times when others simply know better and the important thing is to be entering the narrow gate as one of the sheep of Christ Our Shepherd. The sheepgate is a protection and the shepherd sleeps at the entrance to protect the flock from enemies.

The point in the reading from the Rule about swiftly obeying or acting in obedience to me translates in to having my heart in my actions. When I am asked to do something and I really don't want to do it, I drag my feet. When my heart is wholy into my action, I respond rapidly.