free, joyful submission
"Be submissive to one another out of fear of Christ. Wives should be submissive to their husbands as if to the Lord." —Ephesians 5:21-22, our transl.
The most important thing in life is to do God's will. To do God's will is our food (Jn 4:34). Without doing His will, we do not enter His kingdom (Mt 7:21). He who does God's will is "brother and sister and mother" to Jesus (Mt 12:50). "By this 'will,' we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb 10:10).
A major question in life is: "Am I doing God's will?" Most of the time we can know whether we are doing God's will because He has revealed His will to us through the Church and especially her Scriptures. Yet there are often times when we don't definitely know God's will. In these cases, we must either discern His will and follow our consciences or be in submission to God-given authority. When we follow our consciences, we aren't always sure whether we are in God's will. When we are in submission to those whom God has given authority over us, we are sure we are in God's will.
Submission is a gift which guarantees we are doing God's will. Submission gives us freedom and joy. Rejoice in the gift of submission.
Prayer: Father, through submission make me free and not co-dependent.
Promise: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church. He gave Himself up for her to make her holy, purifying her in the bath of water by the power of the word." —Eph 5:25-26
Praise: Anna remained submissive to her pastor even while encouraging him to better leadership.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape Obeying God on audio AV 62-3 or video V-62.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Richard L. Klug, April 10, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 18, 2002