Most Obedient

Obedience requires trust. Lack of trust on the part of our first parents (Adam and Eve) is what caused all mankind to fall into sin. In the Garden of Eden, the devil instilled in their minds doubts regarding God's trustworthiness and tricked our first parents into disobeying God. Ever since, humanity has struggled to trust and obey God.

In today's culture, obedience is largely misunderstood. Many people are of the opinion that obedience limits their freedom. To them, freedom means the ability to do whatever they please with few if any limits. In this case, freedom is always from something, but for a Christian, freedom is always for something. The Christian, biblical understanding of freedom is the capacity and ability to obey God. Pairing freedom and obedience seems paradoxical, but in obeying God, we are truly free because each of us becomes the man He created us to be. The very nature He gave us is perfected by the freeing obedience of faith.

We find in St. Joseph a refreshing model of obedience. Consider how he follows God's commands through the angel. He, heir to the throne of David the king, lives the humble life of a carpenter. Betrothed to the young virgin Mary, he perhaps saw his future life as one of comfort: a steady job, a loving wife, a simple existence. Then he receives his call: be an earthly father to God Himself. He could have said no, but instead, he listens to the angel, travels to Bethlehem, and sets up a home there after the birth of Christ. He again listens to the angel and flees to Egypt, and originally sought to return to Bethlehem, but changes his plans in accord with God's will and returns to Nazareth.

In our lives, sometimes we try to order God around. We tend to put our wills against God's and put conditions on what we expect from Him. Yet even with our attempts to derail His plans for us, God still guides our lives. However, the longer we fight God's Providence, the longer it will take for us to truly be happy. God has a plan for our lives, and it is in our best interest to listen to Him. He is God, after all. Go to St. Joseph to become obedient sons of the Church.

St. Joseph, help me to examine my life to discover what holds me back from trusting and obeying God more fully. Pray for me so that I may have a humble heart and yield to God at all times. Pray the Litany of St. Joseph.

Daily Challenge

Identify an area of your life where you resist obedience to God's will. Pray to St. Joseph for an increase of trust so you may experience the true freedom that comes through obedience to God.