July 11

Mortification Of Our Judgment.

Preparation. - We should not be content with mortifying our will, but should also renounce our own judgment especially in practicing obedience. We shall consider tomorrow, first, the motives for so doing, and secondly, the means to succeed therein. Then we shall strive to exercise ourselves in beholding God alone in our lawful superiors, so as to “obey them in the simplicity of our heart, as obeying Christ” (Eph. 6. 5).

I. Motives For Obeying Blindly.

The perfection of obedience requires the subjection of our whole soul, that is, of our judgment and our will. But by criticizing and blaming the orders of our superiors, we take away or retain a part of our holocaust, of the sacrifice of ourselves, a sacrifice required by the absolute and universal authority of the Creator. Wherefore instead of giving Him due glory, we dishonor His wisdom by preferring our own views to Him. This is a crying injustice and a fatal presumption!

Our divine Saviour recommends to His apostles, these princes of the Church, to be as simple as children that do without discussing what is commanded them. St. Philip Neri taught this blind obedience to all his disciples, for, said he, “there is nothing more dangerous than to guide ourselves by our own lights.” “Do all you can,” said the Ven. John of Avila, “to destroy your self-will, and especially your judgment and your own notions. Our judgment is the ruin of heavenly consolation, the enemy of interior peace, the parent of discord, the censor of superiors, a rebel to obedience, an idol in the temple of God. We do not partake of the tree of life when we eat with excess of the tree of knowledge.” Does not this language of one of the great masters of the spiritual life condemn all our reasoning, murmuring and repugnance in the performance of our duties?

And why should we fear trusting ourselves to the guidance of our lawful superiors? Have they not the graces of their state that are requisite to direct us? Cannot the wisdom of Jesus, whose place they hold, provide against, or remedy the disadvantages discovered by our censuring mind? It can and will do so, if we humbly submit, as experience proves.

O my God, it is good to abandon one’s self, without investigation or uneasiness, to Thy representative on earth. In this way we subject reason to faith and act with the aid of lights more reliable than those of science. Wherefore preserve me from the fatal habit of judging, criticizing and disapproving what is commanded me, or of replying and making objections to those who command me in Thy name. Impart to me the spirit of faith, the courage to obey promptly, cheerfully and without discussing, all those who guide me. “Obey in the simplicity of your heart, as you would obey Christ”.

II. The Means Of Practicing Blind Obedience.

The first means is often to consider the injury done to our soul by the insubordination of our judgement, for then obedience becomes extremely difficult, and often loses all merit. The devil, about to tempt our first parents, began by asking Eve why God had forbidden them to eat of the fruits of the earthly paradise. Instead of avoiding all discussion, she unhappily began to argue with her enemy, and thus brought on her ruin and ours. How often, by our critical remarks, we provoke in ourselves numberless difficulties and repugnance, which greatly aggravate the sweet yoke of obedience!

Another means of compelling our mind to submit with simplicity, is to keep always before us the example of Jesus Christ. Can we refuse to obey with childlike unconstraint, when we recall the Incarnate Word practicing obedience at Bethlehem, in Egypt, at Nazareth, at the Pretorium, on Calvary and in the Blessed Eucharist? He never contradicted lawful authority, but shows Himself constantly as our Model of a blind, simple and unreserved submission. “But I do not contradict” (Is. 50. 5).

Do we, who pretend to be more enlightened than our superiors, believe that Jesus Christ approves us, when, contrary to His teaching and conduct, we venture, before obeying, to disapprove what is prescribed to us? As for Me, says Jesus Christ, "as I hear, so I judge” (John 5. 50), and I accomplish what is commanded Me, without previously investigating it. Let us act in like manner, without heeding the objections of our impertinent mind. “As I hear, so I judge.”

Obedient Jesus, the orders given me in Thy name are like a lamp to guide my steps (Prov. 6. 23); and nothing is more wise, more perfect, or more meritorious than to perform them. Grant me the grace henceforth to obey without heeding the repugnance of human prudence, for the prudence that deceives not, is contained in obedience. “Through Thy commandment Thou hast made me wise” (Ps. 118. 98).