“Obedience as an evangelical virtue is the radical and uncalculated surrender of one’s life to God the Father who raises up and liberates.”

J Metz – Followers of Christ

All well and good you might say, but does it really mean total surrender to another person’s will? Surrender to another person who is equally as fallible as us? Modern society advocates free will and free choice and isn’t this the complete opposite? How can the two be reconciled? The word obedience comes from two Latin words: “ob” meaning thoroughly and “audire” meaning to hear. To obey then is to listen deeply to another.

Today we place great emphasis on listening in community. The key to obedience and the key to genuine community is to listen deeply to another.

How do we practice this in a modern world?

• enter into open and responsible dialogue

• listen carefully to the opinions of others

• take active part in consultations

• assist and contribute to meetings

• contribute actively to the formulation of the local community plan

• take the initiative

• obey decisions of superiors in the light of faith even though we may think our own opinion better

• strive to achieve unity in mind, heart and action

• be concretely available to go to any part of the world