The Art of Obedience:
Listening to the Word of God
as the Foundation for Witnessing Christ
Introduction
Good day, everyone. Today, I would like to reflect on a key spiritual lesson that runs through the lives of our founders—Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi, as well as our patron Saint Elizabeth of Hungary—and how it relates to the call to be witnesses to the risen Christ. It is a lesson that calls us to learn first the art of obedience, particularly listening to the Word of God and keeping it in our hearts. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, *“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it”* (Luke 11:28). This verse gives us a profound spiritual insight into the importance of obedience to God’s Word as the foundation for our mission in the world.
1. The Importance of Obedience to God’s Word
The Word of God is not just a collection of teachings or stories but is a living, transformative force that reveals God’s will and calls us into deeper communion with Him. To hear and keep the Word is more than just intellectual assent; it involves active listening, an openness of heart, and a willingness to change our lives in response to God’s call.
The lives of Saint Francis, Saint Clare, and Saint Elizabeth provide us with powerful examples of what it means to truly listen to and obey God’s Word. For Francis, his encounter with God’s Word was not merely about reading the Scriptures; it was a radical transformation of his life. When he heard the Gospel message, particularly Christ’s command to *“Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor”* (Matthew 19:21), he obeyed with an open heart, willing to embrace a life of poverty, humility, and service.
Clare, too, responded to God’s call with a radical commitment to living out the Gospel in the most humble and obedient way. She left her family’s wealth and position to follow Christ, embodying the teachings of the Gospel in every aspect of her life.
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, despite her royal status, was deeply committed to the teachings of Christ and the practice of charity. Her obedience to God’s call was evident in her devotion to the poor, her care for the sick, and her willingness to live out the radical message of the Gospel.
Their obedience was not passive or abstract. It was a transformative obedience—one that shaped their lives and prepared them to be witnesses to the love and power of the risen Christ.
2. Obedience as the Foundation for Our Witness
Before we are called to witness to the risen Christ, we must first be obedient to His Word. Obedience is not about following rules out of duty; it is about listening with a heart of love and responding to God’s call with a spirit of trust and humility.
In Luke 11:28, Jesus blesses those who not only hear the Word but keep it. This “keeping” is about allowing the Word of God to take root in our lives. It is about nurturing that Word within us through prayer, contemplation, and action. When we listen attentively to the Word, it transforms us, shaping our attitudes, desires, and actions. As we grow in obedience to God’s Word, we are better equipped to witness to the risen Christ, because it is the Word that empowers and guides us.
The Franciscan Rule reminds us of the essential practice of “careful reading of the Gospel, going from Gospel to life and life to Gospel.” This dual movement invites us to make the Gospel the foundation of our daily decisions and the lens through which we interpret our actions.
- From Gospel to Life:
By immersing ourselves in Scripture, we align our thoughts and hearts with the teachings of Christ, allowing His words to inspire and guide our lives. The Gospel becomes a living guide, shaping our priorities, actions, and relationships. - From Life to Gospel:
Reflecting on our daily experiences in light of the Gospel helps us identify where we have succeeded or fallen short of living as disciples. This reciprocal process deepens our spiritual awareness and fosters humility and growth. - Obedience to the Gospel:
Rule 4 reminds us that our Franciscan vocation calls for fidelity to Christ’s teachings. Through obedience, we echo St. Francis of Assisi’s commitment to living the Gospel authentically and joyfully, serving as witnesses to its transformative power.
Witnessing to Christ is not simply a matter of speaking about Him; it is about reflecting His love and truth in our lives. Our founders—Francis, Clare, and Elizabeth—did not just talk about Christ, they became living witnesses to Him. Their lives were testimonies of how the Word of God can transform the heart, inspire radical acts of love, and bring healing to the broken world.
In this way, obedience to God’s Word is the foundation for our mission as disciples of Christ. Without this deep, interior transformation, our witness may lack the authenticity and power that comes from living the Word we proclaim.
3. The Role of Obedience in Our Spiritual Growth and Mission
Obedience to God’s Word is a lifelong journey. Just as the saints we admire continued to grow in their understanding and living of the Gospel, so too are we called to grow in obedience throughout our lives. This process of listening and keeping the Word strengthens our relationship with God, deepens our faith, and refines our character, making us more capable of being His witnesses in the world.
It is in our daily commitment to hearing God’s Word and living it out that we find the strength to endure the trials and challenges of life. In our obedience, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who enables us to bear witness to the power of the risen Christ. As we listen and obey, God equips us to go out into the world as faithful witnesses of His love, mercy, and truth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, before we are commissioned to be witnesses to the risen Christ, we must first learn the art of obedience to His Word. Like Saint Francis, Saint Clare, Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Louis IX, we are called to listen attentively, to keep the Word in our hearts, and to allow it to transform us. Only then can we truly go out and bear witness to the world of the love and power of the risen Christ.
Let us take inspiration from these holy men and women, who were radically obedient to God’s Word, and pray that we too may grow in our ability to listen, to keep, and to live the Word of God. May our lives become powerful testimonies of the love of Christ, and may we, like them, be sent as faithful witnesses of the risen Lord.
Before I end, I would like to share this prayer of Ephphatha that I think would proceed the Prayer of St Francis.
Prayer
Lord let me hear you speak,
If I can’t hear show me,
If I can’t see tell me. |
Grant me the patience to wait and hear,
And the zeal to act when ready.
Send me the grace of true insight and the gift of courage to believe in your divine will for me.
Ask your blessed mother Mary to help empty myself and your earthly father Joseph to show me how be docile to our mission.
Anthony Saliba OFS
National Formator
