The Obedience of Faith
2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.”Ps. 118
“It is through Him that we have received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for the sake of His name.”Romans 1:5
Jesus was very clear in showing us that the path He came to offer us—to leave the ranks of the devil and enter those of God, thus recovering paradise-is the path of obedience. Just as Adam and Eve chose the path of the devil-of pride, of making themselves gods, and trusting more in themselves than in God, thereby losing the paradise they had in communion with Him—Mary already foreshadowed the path to recover paradise, which is obedience, as we see in her, in Joseph, in Jesus, and in all the saints.
All the teaching of the Gospels could be said to be summed up in this fruit, for the faith that gives us eternal life and which Jesus came to awaken in us is absolute trust in God, which we see sublimely in Christ, even unto death on a cross: “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” The Risen One commands us: Do not be unbelieving but believe. Blessed is the one who believes.
Mary expressed it clearly from the very beginning: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” That is the trust that puts us on God’s side and gives us eternal life. That is why this is the very purpose of Christ’s coming. He came to give us the opportunity to choose differently than Adam and Eve, to leave the path of condemnation to which sin leads us, so that we may recover paradise by taking God’s side. As He asks us when revealing His Divine Mercy: JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU. The mercy and love of God are received through faith-that is, by trusting in Him.
If we do not obey, we are not Christians, nor have we taken God’s side, even if our ideas somewhat align with those of Jesus, even if we enjoy listening to Him and going to Mass. Herod also liked listening to John the Baptist, but he did not change. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are doing well because we say “Lord, Lord,” or because we listen to His word, but if we do not put it into practice, we are on the path to destruction, as Jesus clearly states in Matthew 7:21 and following.
We do not belong to ourselves—we have an owner. To be a disciple of Christ is to be His, to be one of His sheep.
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand…”John 10:27
Those who are consecrated take vows of obedience, thus ensuring that we abandon ourselves in order to follow Jesus. Every Christian should live in obedience to God through the Church and through concrete people, for the same purpose. Otherwise, it is very easy for the ego to get its way and refuse to submit to anyone but itself, thus depriving itself of living in the Kingdom of God.
“Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere love…”1 Peter 1:22
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”Ephesians 5:6
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Acts 5:12-16/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (1)/Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19/Jn 20:19-31
Monday: Acts 4:23-31/Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9/Jn 3:1-8
Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37/Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2, 5/Jn 3:7b-15
Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9/Jn 3:16-21
Thursday: Acts 5:27-33/Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20/Jn 3:31-36
Friday: Acts 5:34-42/Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14/Jn 6:1-15
Saturday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Ps 19:2-3, 4-5/Jn 14:6-14
Next Sunday: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41/Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 (2a)/ Rv 5:11-14/Jn 21:1-19 or 21:1-14
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 2nd Sunday of Easter (Sunday of Divine Mercy)
Monday: St. Peter Chanel, Priest and Martyr; St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, Priest
Tuesday: St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Wednesday: St. Pius V, Pope
Thursday: St. Joseph the Worker; National Day of Prayer
Friday: Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
Next Sunday: 3rd Sunday of Easter
