The dignity of obedience

One of the options for the second reading on today's Feast of the Holy Family, reminds wives and children of their obligation to obey.

Not exactly a popular message for many wives and children (especially when they do not consider the equal or greater obligations Scripture imposes on husbands and fathers).

In today's culture, obedience is an abhorrent concept: an offense against human dignity and harmful to one's self-esteem.

But in today's Gospel (Luke 2:41-52) we hear that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ "was obedient" to the very human Joseph and Mary.

Obedience was not something abhorrent to Christ nor did he consider it an affront to his dignity or a threat to his self-esteem.

Obedience was essential to the dignity of the Holy Family: obedience, love and respect for one another flowing from their obedience, love and respect for God the Father.

Obedience in God is necessary for an environment for growing in grace, wisdom and strength.

Each of us need to consider obedience as part of the way we live our lives, whether we are living with our families or not: obedience to each other as appropriate, obedience to the truth and to the greater good, but - most of all - obedience to God and to the way of truth and love he calls us to follow - for in the will of our loving God lies our greatest dignity.