The Power of Obedience

[SenoritaRita]

Here is a true story which was preserved by Saint Gregory in Chapter 7 of his Second Book of Dialogues:

“On a certain day, as the venerable Benedict was in his cell, the young Placidus, one of the Saint’s monks, went out to draw water from the lake; and putting his pail into the water carelessly, fell in after it. The water swiftly carried him away, and drew him nearly a bowshot from the land. Now the man of God, though he was in his cell, knew this at once, and called in haste for Maurus, saying: ‘Brother Maurus, run, for the boy who went to the lake to fetch water, has fallen in, and the water has already carried him a long way off!’

A marvelous thing, and unheard of since the time of the Apostle Peter! Having asked for and received a blessing, and departing in all haste at his father’s command, Maurus ran over the water to the place whither the young lad had been carried by the water, thinking that he was going over the land; and took him by the hair of his head, and swiftly returned with him. As soon as he touched the land, coming to himself, he looked back, and realized that he had run on the water. That which he could not have presumed to do, being now done, he both marveled and was afraid of what he had done.

Returning therefore to the father, he told him what had happened. And the venerable Benedict did not attribute this to his own merits, but to the obedience of Maurus. Maurus, on the contrary, said that it was done only in accord with his command, and that he had nothing to do with that miracle, not knowing at that time what he did. But in this amicable contention of mutual humility, the youth who had been saved came as judge; for he said, ‘When I was being drawn out of the water, I saw the Abbot’s garment over my head, and perceived that it was he that drew me out of the water.’ ”


I have read many other amazing stories in the book series, Butlers Lives of the Saints, and I never tire of hearing about the seemingly impossible accomplishments that the saints accomplished for the greater glory of God. Saint Joan of Arc led the French Army to Victory though she was just a child and was inexperienced in the ways of the world. Saint Maria Goretti converted the soul of her murderer by her obedience and utmost loyalty to the laws of God. Little children suffered martyrdom without the slightest complaint. Saint Katherine of Alexandria converted thousands by her profession of Christ. The list goes on without end...

I remember that I used to wonder, “What is their secret?” “How could they possibly do such things?” The answer is that they were very humble, trusting, and obedient to God, and they never questioned the commands given to them by Him or by their superiors. They undertook every task given to them without questioning whether they had the strength to do it, and God rewarded their loyalty by helping them to accomplish the impossible.

We may never reach the same degree of perfection as the saints. We may never perform the same glorious wonders as they did. Yet, the more humble, trusting, and obedient we become, the more we will be likely to achieve at least little deeds and little accomplishments which will give great glory and honor to God!

[Shin]

Isn't it a marvelous portion of the history of the saints?

It reminds me of the 'tree of obedience'!

There is nothing like virtue and complete trust in God!

This is the true history of the world, not dry and boring dates and unending battles of the worldlings due to their vices, but the history of God's children showing forth his miraculous love and grace and all the virtues!

[SenoritaRita]

Isn't it a marvelous portion of the history of the saints?

It reminds me of the 'tree of obedience'!

There is nothing like virtue and complete trust in God!

This is the true history of the world, not dry and boring dates and unending battles of the worldlings due to their vices, but the history of God's children showing forth his miraculous love and grace and all the virtues!

What is the "tree of obedience?" 

[Shin]

It is from the histories of the desert fathers:

'Abba John the Dwarf went away to an old Theban in Scetis who lived in the desert. Once his Abba took a piece of dry wood, planted it, and said to him: Water it every day with a bottle of water until it bears fruit. The water, however, was so far away from there that John had to go out late in the evening and come back the next morning.

Three years later, the tree came to life and bore fruit.

Then Abba took some of the fruit and brought it to the church, and said to the brothers: Take and eat the fruit of obedience!'

Abba John the Dwarf is one of the most amusing desert fathers, the stories of his life can bring a smile to everyone.

The father who gave him the piece of wood, was St. Pambo, a disciple of St. Anthony the Great, whom was consulted by many great saints including St. Athanasius.

The desert fathers say of Pambo:

"There was once a monk named Pambo and they said of him that he spent three years saying to God, 'Do not glorify me on earth.' But God glorified him so that one could not gaze steadfastly at him because of the glory of his countenance."

And of St. John..

"It was said of Abba John the Dwarf, that one day he said to his elder brother, 'I should like to be free of all care, like the angels, who do not work, but ceaselessly offer worship to God.' So he took off his cloak and went away into the desert. After a week he came back to his brother. When he knocked on the door, he heard his brother say, 'Who are you?' He said, 'I am John, your brother.' But he replied, 'John has become an angel, and henceforth he is no longer among men.' Then the other begged him saying, 'It is I.' However, his brother did not let him in, but left him there in distress until morning. Then, opening the door, he said to him, 'You are a man and you must once again work in order to eat.' Then John made a prostration before him, saying, 'Forgive me.'"

[SenoritaRita]

Okay!  Makes sense!

Wow!  I have not been on here in awhile! What have I missed?  :-)

[Shin]

Just a bundle of saints' quotes and bits and pieces of Church history!

[SenoritaRita]

Just a bundle of saints' quotes and bits and pieces of Church history!

And those two things are really the best part of this forum...   

[CyrilSebastian]

Why is obedience to the Lord God important?

[Benedict]

Why is obedience to the Lord God important?

In Hebrew the word for obedient is the same word meaning to hear.  Thus the first Commandment
"Hear O Israel the Lord is God the Lord is One" also means "Israel obey the Lord our God, for the Lord is One"
Isaiah 1:19 GNT
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.

1 Samuel 15:22 GNT
Samuel said, "Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him

Deuteronomy 8:20 Douay-Rheims
As the nations, which the Lord destroyed at thy entrance, so shall you also perish, if you be disobedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

Psalm 103:20 GNT
Praise the LORD, you strong and mighty angels, who obey his commands, who listen to what he says.

1 King 8:58 GNT
may he make us obedient to him, so that we will always live as he wants us to live, keeping all the laws and commands he gave our ancestors.

Malachi 3:17 GNT
"They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my very own. I will be merciful to them as parents are merciful to the children who serve them.

Deuteronomy 30:17-20a GNT
17But if you disobey and refuse to listen, and are led away to worship other gods, 18you will be destroyed—I warn you here and now. You will not live long in that land across the Jordan that you are about to occupy. 19I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. 20 Love the LORD your God, obey him and be faithful to him

Thus from this brief summary of the Old Testament we can see that without obedience there is no salvation only death. The events of the Fall of Satan show the cause of disobedience, namely pride. To disobey God is the ultimate act of pride, to put one's will above God's will and to show disdain for the wisdom of the Almighty who had ordained all things in goodness and only commanded that which is good and profitable for salvation. Turning to the dispensation of the Lord's Incarnation we shall see that obedience is the ultimate virtue, the living enactment of humility is obedience.

Luke 6:46-49 GNT
46“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and yet don't do what I tell you? 47Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words and obeys them—I will show you what he is like. 48He is like a man who, in building his house, dug deep and laid the foundation on rock. The river flooded over and hit that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49But anyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a man who built his house without laying a foundation; when the flood hit that house it fell at once—and what a terrible crash that was!”

Matthew 7:21-23 GNT
21“Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. 22When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God's message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ 23 Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!

Luke 1:29-38 GNT
29Mary was deeply troubled by the angel's message, and she wondered what his words meant. 30The angel said to her, “Don't be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. 31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, 33and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!”

34Mary said to the angel, “I am a virgin. How, then, can this be?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God. 36Remember your relative Elizabeth. It is said that she cannot have children, but she herself is now six months pregnant, even though she is very old. 37 For there is nothing that God cannot do.”

38“I am the Lord's servant,” said Mary; “may it happen to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Roman's 1:1-5 GNT
1From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus and an apostle chosen and called by God to preach his Good News.

2The Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets, as written in the Holy Scriptures. 3It is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ: as to his humanity, he was born a descendant of David; 4as to his divine holiness, he was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death. 5Through him God gave me the privilege of being an apostle for the sake of Christ, in order to lead people of all nations to believe and obey.

Roman's 6:16-21 GNT
16Surely you know that when you surrender yourselves as slaves to obey someone, you are in fact the slaves of the master you obey—either of sin, which results in death, or of obedience, which results in being put right with God. 17But thanks be to God! For though at one time you were slaves to sin, you have obeyed with all your heart the truths found in the teaching you received. 18You were set free from sin and became the slaves of righteousness. 19(I use everyday language because of the weakness of your natural selves.) At one time you surrendered yourselves entirely as slaves to impurity and wickedness for wicked purposes. In the same way you must now surrender yourselves entirely as slaves of righteousness for holy purposes.

20When you were the slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. 21What did you gain from doing the things that you are now ashamed of? The result of those things is death! 22But now you have been set free from sin and are the slaves of God. Your gain is a life fully dedicated to him, and the result is eternal life. 23For sin pays its wage—death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Roman's 16:25-27 GNT
25Let us give glory to God! He is able to make you stand firm in your faith, according to the Good News I preach about Jesus Christ and according to the revelation of the secret truth which was hidden for long ages in the past. 26Now, however, that truth has been brought out into the open through the writings of the prophets; and by the command of the eternal God it is made known to all nations, so that all may believe and obey.

27To the only God, who alone is all-wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.

Philippians 2:5-11 GNT
5The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:

6He always had the nature of God,

but he did not think that by force he should try to remain+ equal with God.

7Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had,

and took the nature of a servant.

He became like a human being

and appeared in human likeness.

8He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—

his death on the cross.

9For this reason God raised him to the highest place above

and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.

10 And so, in honor of the name of Jesus

all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below+

will fall on their knees,

11and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father

1 Peter:1-2 GNT
1From Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ—

To God's chosen people who live as refugees scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2You were chosen according to the purpose of God the Father and were made a holy people by his Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be purified by his blood.

May grace and peace be yours in full measure.

Clearly obedience is how we obtain an inheritance that is undefiled for by disobedience we obtained an inheritance
among the devils with unquenchable fire. Therefore, repent and believe the Gospel for the Kingdom of Heaven has been brought near to you! Do not be unbelieving but turn to God in obedience! Beg pardon and confess your sins that you may escape the dreadful judgment which befell the Angel's who remained not obedient to God! For the Lord is Merciful and Gentle, filled with Kindness and Love, full of Compassion and Patience! As the prodigal son was disobedient and went astray yet returning was greated with great joy, so too will your Father in heaven await your return and rejoice in saving you and pardoning your transgressions if only you will put away your wickedness and pride and embrace the innocence of children of God and come into the Light that your deeds would be made known and receive the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and be cleansed by His Most Precious Blood for obedience and submission to Almighty God. Amen