Simplicity and Obedience

We have already discussed two of the three Evangelical Counsels, Poverty and Chastity, in relation to Simplicity. Now we shall discuss the third one, Obedience.

Obedience is defined by the Catholic Encyclopedia as 

"the complying with a command or precept. It is here regarded not as a transitory and isolated act but rather as a virtue or principle of righteous conduct. It is then said to be the moral habit by which one carries our the order of his superior with the precise intent of fulfilling the injunction."

The simple person would find it easier to be obedient. This is because the simple person knows and accepts the fact that there is someone superior than him or her to which obedience is due. People who lack simplicity would be more prone to assert freedom, independence and self-determination. 

JESUS SAID,
"LET YOUR WILL BE DONE NOT MINE."
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Let us just take for instance the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Joseph, the Apostles, and the many Saints from the establishment of the Church through the centuries and until now. One of the most shining virtues that they possess is obedience in conjunction with simplicity. Even the Old Testament is full of simple and obedient people. Of course, who could be the best example of obedience more than our Lord Jesus Christ himself [see Luke 22:42]? And consider the great things that God has endowed upon them for their total obedience.

What we can observe with the many people who assert their freedom, independence and the desire for self-determination, is the growing complexity of their choices. Most often than not, people who try to disregard obedience end up being led to sin as if being free and independent in their true sense is equivalent to violation of God's love. But true freedom and independence is obedience to the will of God; the opposite, that is, trying to distance from God and His love, is really enslavement to sin. For in this universe, there is no middle ground between God and sin, between good and evil. It is either one obeys God or allows himself or herself to become the slave of sin. Those who dream of a middle ground are being deceived.

Important thing to remember: obedience requires that we who obey must have the sincere intention of obeying the command. Our obedience must be due to faith, hope and love so that even if at the initial moment we may not understand the purpose of the command, it is at least done because we believe that our obedience would ultimately lead us to the Father's house and not to evil or damnation. 

Let us be simple enough to easily obey God. So that we may not be burdened by the complexities of life and deny God what is due to Him for He loves us so much and doesn't want us to be lost forever.