“Obedience is the greatest freedom”. When I read that quote forty years ago, those words were beautiful yet puzzling. They still are. But I would also add consoling.
In these many years, I have experienced true freedom in obeying my superiors. When I carry out an assignment given to me as a religious Sister, I don’t have to be second-guessing myself all the time. The vow of obedience means that I can be certain of God’s will for me. But that doesn’t mean I’m a robot, just mindlessly carrying out orders. It’s so much more. It’s a concrete way in which I am able to put my love for God into practice.
The vow of obedience does not limit my freedom or creativity. It invites me to be more intentional with my mind, will and heart. Pauline obedience is lived in an attitude of listening and discerning how God desires to live in and through me, so that his love for each person can be made known. The greatest freedom is giving God free reign of my heart.
