On Humility, Obedience, and Freedom

 Once again, this blog post comes from my Lectio Divina. I was unable to attend church today due to a migraine, so I stayed home and read. Also, due to the migraine, this post is appearing later in the day than I typically like to post.

Obedience is a tool that can crush human pride. Obedience to our elders - and obviously to God as well - can teach us humility. Humility is the opposite of pride.

In the military, we are taught obedience to those of a higher rank, This usually works for the betterment of the unit, unless one has inept leaders. There are consequences for those who are not obedient.

With Christian obedience, we are to voluntarily be obedient to those in authority over us. This means obedience to to our spiritual father, our priest, our confessor (if different from our priest), our bishop, and ultimately God. We should strive to follow the examples of the Apostles and martyrs who remained obedient in the face of persecution. We should strive to follow the example of Christ who, "became obedient to death," (Philippians 2:8),

This obedience can oft times leas those of the world to say we are slave to our religion - that we are ignorant fools for just blindly trust the Church. They do not see that this obedience truly sets us free. This freedom - a freedom in Christ - fills us with joy.

The persecuted Apostle, martyrs, and various other saints were not miserable in their persecutions; but they were filled with joy to be able to suffer for Christ. The had - through their obedience - freed themselves from the shackles of this world. They had freed themselves from their earthly passions.

Those who are purely of this world do not understand this. They are taught to follow their passions and that by giving in to their passions they are truly free. And yet it seems that the more that they give in to their passions, the more they feel shackled. They continuously chase after a false freedom while gaining more chains with every step. They are searching for joy, but always find disappointment. 

The only true joy - the only true freedom - can only be found through obedience to Christ.