THE PERFECTON OF OBEDIENCE IN LOVE

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP, DOCTOR   

2 Sam 1:1-4,11-12,17,19; Ps 80:2-3,5-7; Mk 3:20-21

Love Perfects Obedience

As all things created obey the divine will, so ought we to obey the will of God. In creating everything, God gave each its own essence, which defines its nature. By their respective natures, they obey God by remaining in existence and operating through the nature they received from him. By living according to their respective natures, they remain good in praise of God, their creator. The beauty and goodness of creatures come from their steadfastness in obeying the divine mandate written in their nature. As we noted earlier in the week, human nature was created by God in a unique way, for he made us in his own image. Our rationality is the image of God in us. So, unlike other material creatures, He made us to know things and to know him. The ability to know creatures is inherent in our nature, but the ability to know God is not; however, the capacity is what we possess. It is only with the divine aid that we are able to know God, who is supernatural to our nature. We have considered obedience, which the Son of Man teaches us, as the means to knowledge of God.

By receiving and obeying the word of God, we gradually receive and contain God within us. Since God lives in his word, the gradual increase in our knowledge of God invokes a corresponding attraction and love for God in our hearts. Saint Paul notes that this increase is a result of the Holy Spirit's activity within us as we obey God in all things. “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” We see this in the life of David, though he was being hunted and persecuted by Saul, the king, he remained joyful and full of love for God and his neighbours. He kept fighting for God’s people, Israel, and defending them against every invading tribe or people. He was so self-forgetful that he even mourned the death of the king and his son, Jonathan. “David returned from his rout of the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. On the third day a man came from the camp where Saul had been, his garments torn and earth on his head. … ‘I have escaped from the Israelites' camp. The people have fled from the battlefield and many of them have fallen. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.’” David made a great lamentation for Saul, and especially for his friend Jonathan. It is the mark of great love for God and neighbour to mourn the death of one who sought to kill you. David was deeply in love with God, for the Holy Spirit was very active in him throughout his life.

We see the epitome of this love for God and neighbour in the Son of Man. During his ministry on earth, Jesus spent time teaching and curing the people. He gave them not only his allotted time but also his leisure time; so much so that he was practically occupied throughout the day attending to the people. The Gospel bears witness to this. “Jesus went home, and once more such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal.” To go beyond what is commanded or demanded by God is the character of love. God does not just give us what is due or what justice demands, but he gives us himself that we may have life in full. Since he made us for himself, he spares nothing to save us from evil and sin. The relatives of our Lord could not comprehend his love for the people. “When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.” We see similar love and gentle care of the people in the life of Saint Francis de Sales. He was born in 1567 near Annecy, in Savoy, studied the law, and was ordained a priest despite his father’s opposition. He was given the mission to re-evangelise his own people, the Chablais, who had gone over to Calvinism. Not minding the hatred of the Calvinists, he preached so effectively that almost all the people returned to the Church after four years. He became the bishop of Geneva. He spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganising the diocese, caring for the souls of his people, and guiding many on their spiritual journey. He believed and taught that devout life is for all, irrespective of our occupation or profession. According to him, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.” He died in 1622.

Let us pray: O God, who for the salvation of souls willed that the Bishop Saint Francis de Sales become all things to all, graciously grant that, following his example, we may always display the gentleness of your charity in the service of our neighbour. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.