They were filled with great awe and said to one another,
“Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Obedience is a very powerful word. Dog owners take great pride in their dog who follows their every command, from sit, to beg, heel, and more. It not only shows their mastery over their dog but also the dog’s loyalty to them.
But for humans, obedience often takes a different hue, probably from our innate desire to be in self-control, versus the control of another. Few of us like to be called compliant, acquiescent, or submissive.
But how do we respond when obedience is to the one even wind and sea obey? Do we push back and try to assert our own will and control, or do we let God, who knows what is best for us, guide us?
Psychologists contend there are four types of obedience. It can be based on fear, reward, duty or love, with love being the highest form, as it is rooted in joy and is freely given without expectation of something in return. It is this type of obedience that God asks from us. Not one grounded in fear, reward, or duty, but in love.
God wants us to follow with a heart open to his calling, an obedience demonstrated in how we live our lives in service to others, not just by attending Mass or reading daily devotions. How we conduct our daily affairs shows that we honor his authority and his commandments, and that we place our complete trust in God.
Obedience that is not simply adhering to rules but a conscience and willing submission of one’s will to God’s authority is what we should strive for. This type of obedience, based on love, is far better than one based on ritual. And if we choose to follow this path with a willing heart, we will have a closer and more personal relationship with God.
Obedience to God’s message for us must be truly from the heart and done with the intention to serve God, not out of fear, duty, or anticipated reward. For how we live our lives and immerse ourselves in helping those around is how best to be obedient to God’s will.
Steve Scholer
I came to Creighton to attend law school in 1976 and following 5 years of private practice I started what I thought would be a 4 year job to help Fr. James Hoff, S.J. raise funds for the Campaign for Creighton. Little did I know that the many wonderful people I would soon meet, both here on campus and across the entire country, over the next few years would lead me to stay and continue to support the mission of this University. My wife is a Creighton graduate and our son, Frank, is a Xavier undergraduate and Creighton law graduate. Our daughter, Paige, has both her undergraduate and master’s degree from Creighton.
I do not participate in social media websites so posting my personal interpretation about what the readings mean to me is a novel experience for me. However, being required to put pen to paper forced me to become more reflective about what God is really trying to say to me and this has helped me in my daily prayer life - to slow down and let the Word of God dwell within me instead of racing through the daily devotions.
