Lest You Remain

Topic VI : EVANGELICAL OBEDIENCE The Word of the Lord (Mk 14:32-39) The Agony in the Garden. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what i will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Church’s Documents (VC, No.91) The challenge of freedom in obedience 91. The third challenge comes from those notions of freedom which separate this fundamental human good from its essential relationship to the truth and to moral norms. In effect, the promotion of freedom is a genuine value, closely con- nected with respect for the human person. But who does not see the aberrant con- sequences of injustice and even violence, in the life of individuals and of peoples, to which the distorted use of freedom leads? An effective response to this situation is the obedience, which marks the con- secrated life. In an especially vigorous way this obedience re-proposes the obedi- ence of Christ to the Father and, taking this mystery as its point of departure, testi- fies that there is no contradiction between obedience and freedom. Indeed, the Son’s attitude discloses the mystery of human freedom as the path of obedience to the Father’s will, and the mystery of obedience as the path to the gradual conquest of true freedom. It is precisely this mystery which consecrated persons wish to acknowledge by this particular vow. By obedience they intend to show their aware- ness of being children of the Father, as a result of which they wish to take the Father’s will as their daily bread (cf. Jn 4:34), as their rock, their joy, their shield and their fortress (cf. Ps 18:2). Thus they show that they are growing in the full truth about themselves, remaining in touch with the source of their existence and therefore offering this most consoling message: “The lovers of your law have great peace; they never stumble” (Ps 118:165). L EST Y OU R EMAIN W ITHOUT W ORK IN THE V INEYARD OF THE L ORD 44