Obedience of Faith of Mary
The Blessed Virgin possessed all the virtues in the greatest possible degree, but not all were of equal importance. That of obedience was undoubtedly one of the most important. The example of Our Lady's obedience-which could be described as "blind," although in reality it enabled her to know and do God's Will exactly and with alacrity-stands in opposition to a rather negative view of the value of obedience that is so prevalent in contemporary society.
Our Blessed Mother's constant practice of the virtue of obedience was nothing short of perfect. Her entire existence can be summed up in a simple but profound phrase: to do always the Will of God.
How may we characterize Our Blessed Lady's stellar obedience? Here are only a few of the many possible descriptions.
Mary obeyed always. No one can point to a moment, from her Immaculate Conception in the previously sterile womb of her Mother Saint Anne to her Coronation by the Most Blessed Trinity as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, in which the Mother of God refused her Good Lord anything. Her answer was always "yes": "yes" to love, "yes" to sacrifice, "yes" to hardship. God had only to ask... and Mary's response was always the same: fiat "Let it be done as You say."
Mary obeyed unhesitatingly. Our Lady needed no time for deliberation on whether to obey. She responded immediately and affirmatively to the Lord without delay. Her delight was to obey God with all rapidity.
Mary obeyed blindly Mary never asked herself: "Is this in my best interest?" "Would I be hampered if I obeyed?" Such self-seeking questions were the farthest removed from her mind. She obeyed without selfish consideration of the future. She surrendered equally to both joys and sorrows.
Mary obeyed cheerfully. Who can imagine Mary with a "long face" when she was called to embrace some sacrifice? No, she was continually joyful in her obedience, no matter what God required of her. Mary's was a deep joy that never departed from her soul.
The reader can see where our discussion is leading us. If we wish to draw closer to Jesus Christ, then we must take a page from His Ever-Virgin Mother's Immaculate Heart and obey as she did. Our obedience, too, must be always, unhesitating, blind and cheerful.
This task is not easy, to be sure. Rather, it demands much from each of us. Yet, obedience is possible! And it is necessary if, like Our Heavenly Mother, we are to inherit the Kingdom of God.
In our world where obedience is regarded as weakness
and a lack of self-assertiveness, the example of Our Blessed Lady
provides a necessary corrective. She is the beautiful model of
obedience. She gladly exalted God's Will in her life. We can even say
that, in a certain sense, His Will became her Will, so much did she
yield to it.
In her own stirring example, Mary reminds us that
obedience to God is where our treasure and unending happiness lie. By
clinging to His Will instead of our own, we grow in Sanctifying Grace,
which is the very life of God.
Our Blessed Mother never tired of obeying her Divine Son. She did everything she was asked by God. And all that she did was carried out with in tense love for and gratitude to her benevolent Creator.
We may ask ourselves: how was it that Mary understood the importance of obedience? What special insight did she have?
Having been filled with the Holy Spirit at the instant of her Immaculate Conception, Our Lady knew what was proper and just. Her decisions were blest because she made them humbly and with reference to Almighty God and His Eternal Law.
Are our decisions blest? Yes, if they are made humbly and with reference to Al mighty God. By our daily prayer, frequent and worthy reception of the Holy Sacraments (e specially Penance and the Most Holy Eucharist), regular acts of charity and self-denial, our minds too become increasingly enlightened. Then, we see with the eyes of God and do as He wishes.
The virtue of obedience is within our grasp. We turn
to Our Blessed Lady and seek her intercession so that we may behave as
she did. Our reward will be like hers: Everlasting Life with the Most
Blessed Trinity forever!
Taken from Missio Immaculatae International (English Edition) Issue n. 8., October 2006.
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