Beautiful (?) Obedience

Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:

share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.

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At Mass last weekend, I had trouble breathing. Because of mask wearing. And also because my kids didn’t seem to stop fidgeting and/or talking the entire time. Mental note: I need to pray about this guilty feeling when my kids are more than silent in public.

Actually. I just remembered that my friend Anel spoke graciously into this situation over a year ago. It was at a time when going to Mass was my biggest challenge of the week. She asked, “What does David think?”

“David thinks it’s good for us to go to Mass as a family.”

And with an enduring mix of sass and gentleness, Anel reminded me that my responsibility is to my husband and family first. In other words, maybe others are annoyed that my kids are squirmy or making noise. Is that my main concern?

I think this has to do with my Word for the Week: “He learned obedience through what he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

As I asked the Lord, “What do you want me to do about this word?” The answer in my heart was simple but not so easy, “Be obedient.”

Obedient in what way?

At some point this week, I realized: A. I am still (still) not being called to initiate live events, and B. I am so very happy. These realizations did not occur at the same time! Yet somehow I moved from being majorly disappointed that David wasn’t excited about my latest get-people-together plan, into an overwhelmingly joyful contentment.

It was clear that one springs from the other. Obedience to God gives way to serenity!

This morning, as I sat down to write Word for the Week, I reflected upon this psalm setting from today’s Mass reading. Perhaps you, as well, are being tempted by “good” things to do. (See examples above: to have quiet children at Mass, to facilitate a backpacking retreat, etc.) And yet! If the things that take our attention aren’t bringing peace, then God has something even better for us.

I’ll invite you to take a deep breath and ask the Holy Spirit, “How are you calling me to be obedient to your voice today?” Let’s close with this psalm as we listen for the Lord’s answer:

(From Psalm 40)

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not; then said I, “Behold I come.”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is within my heart!”
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
I did not restrain my lips, as you, O Lord, know.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Your justice I kept not hid within my heart; your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;
I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth in the vast assembly.
Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

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