Listening with the Heart – Weapon of Obedience

“This message is now for you, if you are willing to surrender your own will and take up the strong and noble weapons of obedience, to do battle for Christ the Lord, the true King.”

The Rule of St Benedict, Prologue 3

Last week we reflected on Benedict’s words, “This message is now for you.”

This week we come to what follows. Benedict asks us to take up “the strong and noble weapons of obedience.”

It is striking language.

Benedict describes the Christian life as a battle. Yet this is not a call to hostility towards other people. The battle he describes is the struggle within our own hearts as we learn to follow Christ.

We all know something of this struggle.

We know what it is to want to do what is right and yet find ourselves drawn in another direction. We know the difficulty of patience when we feel frustrated or forgiveness when we have been hurt.

The Christian life involves learning to resist those things that draw us away from God. The battle is real, but it is often found in very ordinary places. It may be fought in the moment when we choose not to answer anger with anger.

It may be fought when we refuse to give in to resentment.
It may be fought when we admit that we were wrong.
It may be fought when we choose prayer instead of distraction.

This is why Benedict calls obedience a weapon.

Obedience (as mentioned earlier in this series) teaches us to place our lives under the authority of Christ. It slowly weakens the habit of self-will and strengthens our ability to choose what is good.

Christian obedience is not about becoming controlled. It is an invitation to become strong enough to resist the things that lead us away from God and humble enough to follow where Christ leads.

A Practice for the Week

At the end of each day, take a few moments to reflect on where you experienced the struggle to follow Christ. (If you have one of our ‘Ora et Labora’ Journals maybe use the daily examen section)

Ask yourself:

“Where was I tempted to choose my own way?”

“Where did I choose the way of Christ?”

Give thanks for the grace to obey.

Where you failed, ask for forgiveness and begin again.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Teach me to recognise the battles within my own heart.

Give me strength to resist what draws me away from You and humility to follow Christ when His way is difficult.

Teach me to use the weapons of obedience with patience and faithfulness.

May I learn to live under the rule of Christ, the true King, and remain faithful to Him in the ordinary choices of each day.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.