Obedience Isn't Such an Awful Thing

Obedience Isn't Such an Awful Thing

By Fr. Steve Ryan, SDB

From Fr. Steve's The Don newsletter, July 28, 2018

I just left Tampa Thursday morning. After being here for six years and loving it, now I’m going to live the next chapter of my Salesian life in New York. I have a new assignment which comes to me through the vow of obedience. It was issued to me by my religious superior, the provincial. My new assignment was given to me with consideration for my gifts and talents, and there is even a bit of a promotion with it, but… it’s not my first choice. My first choice would be just to stay in Tampa for another six years. However, I have no option – I have to move. Why? Because I took the vow of obedience. You can’t make a vow to Almighty God and then make up your own rules on how and when and where it applies. In a marriage you can’t stand before the altar and tell your spouse that you promise fidelity, permanence, total transparency and unity, then spend the next 50 years doing your own thing. It won’t work. The marriage would be a farce. It’s the same thing for the vows that a consecrated religious takes. Where the “rubber hits the road” is when you live those evangelical counsels in concrete ways.

Ordinand (Deacon Abe Feliciano) promising obedience to his lawful superiors before his ordination 

to the priesthood by Bishop Luc Van Looy, SDB. Photo by Fr. Franco Pinto.

How does a religious sister or brother “take a change” brought about by obedience? There is only one way – take it cheerfully. God has something good awaiting us in the next chapter of our lives. Say it – “Thy Will be done.” God worked great miracles through his Saints because of their humble obedience! By cheerfully going where we are asked to go, we free our hearts, minds and souls for a greater part of God's plan.

When stuff happens in life – like sickness, divorce, unemployment, addiction, accidents, even unexpected deaths – and this stuff is thrown on us directly or indirectly, we have no choice but to deal with it. Deal with the “plate” put in front of you. Eat the plate served. Also, live the commitments you made and deal with the people to whom you’ve made those commitments. When the playing field changes as the game goes along – deal and adapt. Hang in there!

Fr. Steve Dumais SDB said something in our parish bulletin once: By obeying when it’s hard, God gives us a beautiful gift, if we can but grasp its importance. We get to substitute HIS WILL for our will. If we are spiritually open and compliant we can be God-like by accepting humbly. By being cheerfully obedient, just like our favorite Saints, we free ourselves for the totality of the mission – the mission that Jesus wants for us at this present moment in our lives. For a religious brother, priest or sister, it’s the mission which our superior has set before us.

Let’s remember to rely on our Blessed Mother and let’s remember that she always “has our back”. She is such a support for us in remaining obedient to the Will of God! Our total trust in God will allow us to more fully be His instruments. Mary, the Blessed Mother, is the perfect instrument and vessel. She calls us and encourages us. Obedience isn’t such an awful thing!