The definition of “obedience” means “to comply with or follow the commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions of”.

Given this definition, how can one be “free” when inclined to obey?

The key word is, “inclined”. It is that we are inclined to obey in the first place that indicates that we are free.

For example, imagine a woman desires to go on a walk to get some fresh air, light exercise, and to clear her head of anxiety. After all, she knows exercise is good for her mind and body.

But something stops her from going: Her phone lights up with a notification, and she settles back in to see what it is. Before long, twenty minutes have passed, so that thought about her walk is now ancient history; she is no longer inclined to do it.

Why not? What stopped her? Well, we know her phone did.

But what else?

Was she inclined to look at her phone for twenty minutes or, was there something else limiting her will?

The difference between her jumping up to go on a walk immediately or not lies in the amount of freedom she possesses to choose–namely:

The walk idea was an inclination and the phone-perusing was a compulsion.

The idea she had infers she had greater freedom to choose before she became distracted by her phone.

Balancing act

In our culture, our lives feel like a balancing act.

Are we slaves to our jobs, activities or entertainment?

Are they limiting our sense of community by increasing our self-made isolation and loneliness, depriving us of our enjoyment of true beauty and truth?

Sunday reveal

One way to know is examining how we spend our Sundays (or in the case of those who have to work on Sundays, days off work).

What do we do in our limited free time? Do we indulge in selfish or sinful behavior? Do we seek entertainment to the exclusion of others which God has placed in our lives? Do we attempt to justify our actions by saying, “I deserve this”?

Do we have free time?

In the case of Sundays, God has commanded us to set that day apart by resting “in Him” through public worship by attending Holy Mass, spending time with family, enjoying others’ company, and setting aside time for prayer and gratitude.

Do we resent God for this command?

But does God really need all this? Is this “command” for Him?

No, He’s God, and therefore, lacks nothing. He is the fullness of existence, truth, beauty and a perfect union of love within the “trinity-communion” of Persons.

The third Commandment of keeping Sundays holy (set apart) is for our benefit.

God commands balance

Out of love for us, God knows we need to have a day to relax and rest. God’s command is balance. He does not want us to live in extremes and give ourselves over to worthless things.

He wants us to be healthy and happy.

The third Commandment is just one of His Ten Commandments that, when obeyed, keep us free.

How?

Resting on Sunday from unnecessary labor and the demands of the world frees us from the numerous things in life that wear us out, distract us, frustrate us, deprive us of meaning and keep us chained to the emptiness of this world.

Obedience to God

Therefore, we should not be obedient to anything that goes against God’s Ten Commandments, because we would be giving away our ability to live in true freedom.

Obedience to God’s laws is life-giving to both the body and the soul. It frees us from the exaggerations and deceptions of the Evil One, who Jesus called “a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44).

It means gaining total freedom to say “no” to things that harm us, and ultimately, increase the strength of our will.

It recalls us to reality, and a humble acceptance of God’s loving plan for each one of us. It empowers us to complete our specific mission that God gave to us alone, and to bring us and others closer to Himself.

And finally, obedience to God is the ultimate expression of love. It is putting ourselves last so that God can raise us up and bring us home.

It is what Jesus did when He willingly underwent the humiliation and torture of the Cross or our sake.

Have a blessed Feast of the Holy Archangels, Gabriel, Michael and Raphael!

“If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments (John 14:15).