The Virtue That The World Struggles So Much With Today

Virgin Mary's virtue of obedience — Image from Canva Pro

There is one virtue that the world struggles so much with today. No, it is not the virtue of purity. It is not even the virtue of temperance that guards our souls from gluttony.

As much as the world seems to idolize pleasure and comfort, it struggles more with this one virtue – the virtue of obedience.

Why Is Obedience So Difficult?

For many of us, it is far easier to say that we are kind or merciful or just. We’d rather lean on the other virtues to make ourselves believe we have already grown spiritually.

But when it comes to obedience, we’d rather remain silent and look the other way.

Obedience is hard because it alone tests where our loyalty rests. Do we obey God as a sign that we have faith in Him? Or do we obey ourselves because that’s what our sinful nature compels us to do?

To obey God is to submit to Him and to recognize His authority. To disobey Him is to make gods of ourselves. It’s as simple as that.

Our Problem with Obeying the Church

Our trouble with obedience also shows itself in obeying the precepts of the Church. I think this is one reason why people today would rather call themselves “spiritual” rather than “religious”.

We prefer to grow spiritually on our own. We do not want to submit to the proper authorities God has given us.

Why is it that many people find it hard to join the Catholic Church? It’s because of the authority it exerts.

The Church has been given authority by Jesus Christ Himself. Its leaders and members may not be perfect, but God chooses to work through imperfect people. We don’t obey the individual preferences of its people, but the faith that God has entrusted it.

It is never easy to obey the people you don’t like. But through it, we follow Him who became an obedient child and grew up submitting Himself even to earthly authorities.

“The whole of your faith is founded upon obedience, for by it you prove your fidelity.” – St. Catherine of Siena

The Virtue of Little Children

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 18:3-4 (NABRE)

Obedience proves our humility and submission to God. It is the virtue of little children who trust their Father in heaven.

Our problem is that we are often ashamed to be like little children. We see children as weak and we’d rather appear strong. We see children as ignorant of many things, and we’d rather appear wise.

But in our quest to prove ourselves, we forget that the true way to wisdom and strength is through the path God has laid down for us – through obedience.

“Man finds in obedience the annihilation of self-love, and the true liberty of the children of God.” – St. Vincent de Paul

The Disobedience of Saul

We read in the Old Testament about Saul’s problem in obeying God. Rather than follow what God has commanded, he listened to the opinion of those around him.

When God commanded him to utterly destroy the enemy (including their goods and livestock), he kept some things including cattle and sheep with the excuse of making a sacrifice to the Lord.

What Saul failed to realize was that obedience is already the sacrifice being demanded of him.

“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obedience to the voice of the Lord?
Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is no less a sin than divination,
and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has also rejected you from being king.”
-1 Samuel 15:22-23 (NRSVCE)

“Obedience is the true holocaust which we sacrifice to God on the altar of our hearts.” – St. Philip Neri

The Importance of Obedience

Obedience is so important that without it, no person can ever claim intimacy with God.

How can you say that you love God when you refuse to obey His commandments?

“Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.” – St. Thomas Aquinas

It isn’t enough to believe in Jesus Christ. You show your faith by obeying His words.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15 (NABRE)

Obedience helps us follow God’s ways. And His way is always the best for us!

Let us pray for the virtue of obedience so that our hearts can draw closer to God. It will not be easy. But it will be a path filled with the light and protection of God.

Our first parents failed because they did not obey Him who loved them most and knew what’s best for them. Let us imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary who humbled herself and submitted her entire being to God.