Rule of St Benedict Chapter 5
The first degree of humility is obedience without delay.
Obedience. A word that makes one cringe ever so much. It grinds against the very pride of man to rule himself and his destiny. Benedict says to us here, “the first degree of humility” that is the first identifiable mark of humility is obedience that is an outflow of an already submitted will that doesn’t consider is own desire and wants. This is “unhesitating obedience, which comes naturally to those who cherish Christ above all.” (RB1980 Liturguical Press).
The lesson is quite simple, if God has placed an authority over one then does it not stand to reason to disobey that authority, even in thought, is to be likewise toward Christ Himself, indeed the Father also!
He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. Luke 10:16
This is where true humility is put to the test and false humility will be easily revealed. Christ is our perfect example of obedience leaving His place in Heaven by His own will, to do the will of the One who sends Him. In Him we must imitate what He has shown us in action yes, but also in the very fiber of who we are in Christ. His example was even evidenced in His willful obedience not only to the One who sent Him, but also willful obedience to delegated authority such as that of the Sanhedrin in legal proceeding and even to the wicked dictates of Pontius Pilate authenticating Pilot’s authority by acknowledging Pilate would have no authority except that which given by God Himself! How that kicks against our human nature and how offensive to our pride to even consider submitting to the delegated authority of one such as Pilate. Yes! This we are called to do (Rom 13).
If the disciple obey with ill-will, and murmur, not only in words, but also in heart, although he fulfil what is commanded him, it will not be acceptable to God, Who considereth the heart of the murmurer. For such a work he shall not have any reward, but rather incurreth the penalty of murmurers, unless he amend and make satisfaction.
God looks deep into the heart of a man to see that it isn’t the act of obedience that meets with approval but the heart from which the result finds its true origin. Any man can be compelled ever so gently through persuasion or ever so forcefully through torture to submit unto obedience. True godly submission, however, is a ready, willing, unhestitating attitude of the heart leaving true Christlike obedience the first evidence of humility and an act of love toward the One who has first loved us.
