On Obedience
Jan. 22—May 23—Sept. 22
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.” And again to teachers He says, “He who hears you, hears Me.”
Such as these, therefore, immediately leaving their own affairs and
forsaking their own will, dropping the work they were engaged in 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,” 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.”
Jan. 23—May 24—Sept. 23
But this very obedience will be acceptable to God and pleasing to men
only if what is commanded is done without hesitation, delay,
lukewarmness, grumbling, or objection. For the obedience given to
Superiors is given to God, since He Himself has said, “He who hears you,
hears Me.” And the disciples should offer their obedience with a good
will, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” For if the disciple obeys with
an ill will and murmurs, not necessarily with his lips but simply in his
heart, then even though he fulfil the command yet his work will not be
acceptable to God, who sees that his heart is murmuring. And, far from
gaining a reward for such work as this, he will incur the punishment due
to murmurers, unless he amend and make satisfaction.