OBEDIENCE SCHOOL

“This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved you.” –John 15:12

Gentile Christians were commanded by the leaders of the early Church to change their eating habits and sexual practices (see Acts 15:20). People are usually very resistant to limitations on their food consumption or sexual activity. However, the Gentile Christians read the letter containing their new orders with “great delight at the encouragement it gave” (Acts 15:31).

For those in love, obedience, in even the most difficult matters, is a delight. The psalmist prayed: “To do Your will, O my God, is my delight” (Ps 40:9). It is more fulfilling to obey God than to do our own thing. Jesus taught: “Doing the will of Him Who sent Me and bringing His work to completion is My food” (Jn 4:34). Jesus promised: “You will live in My love if you keep My commandments, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and live in His love” (Jn 15:10). He also promised: “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (Jn 15:14). Obeying Jesus leads to a delightful, fulfilling life of love and friendship with Jesus. Therefore, “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 Jn 5:3). We are privileged that the Lord has given us the opportunity and grace to obey Him.

For love of us, Jesus obeyed even to death on the cross (Phil 2:8). May we learn obedience from what He suffered (cf Heb 5:8) and let the Lord perfect us in obedience (2 Cor 10:6).

PRAYER: Father, may I obey You financially, sexually, intellectually, emotionally, and socially.

PROMISE: “It was not you who chose Me, it was I Who chose you to go forth and bear fruit. Your fruit must endure.” –Jn 15:16

PRAISE: Like the apostles, St. Catherine of Siena had God-given Wisdom. She wrote letters of advice to popes and many sought her spirit-filled counsel.