Obedience
Every month at Clear Water we have what is called the "Virtue of the Month". We actually work on that virtue for 2 months at a time. The idea is that we will talk about and think about it, and all of us, (staff and students) will try to get better and grow in that virtue.
Can anyone tell me what a virtue is?
A virtue can be defined as moral excellence, or even better, a habit of moral excellence. So for example, if someone gives money to the poor, we might say that they are "generous". But if they make a habit out of doing generous things, they foster the virtue of "generosity", which means that they become the type of person who is generous- a virtue becomes a part of who you are, rather than just being something you do sometimes.
The opposite of a virtue is a vice. Can anyone name an example of a vice? Like a virtue, vices are habits which change the kind of person you are. This is why as Christians we need to fight against vices and try to form virtues.
Who knows what the virtue of the month this month is?
Obedience.
What does obedience mean?
Most people think of obedience as doing something that someone else wants for fear of consequences. But obedience as an actual virtue is more than that. Remember that virtue is about changing the actual kind of person you are- so just being obedient, like a slave or a dog- is not virtuous in itself. You want to become the kind of person who is obedient out of love and humility.
People you should obey are "Legitimate Authority." Who can think of some examples? (Teachers, parents, Deans, coaches, police, magisterium, etc.) What would be an example of illegitimate authority? (Dictators, bullies, anyone telling you to do things that is contrary to God's will.)
What makes the difference between legitimate authority and illegitimate? (Legitimate should themselves be obedient to God!) How should Legitimate authority behave?
Have you ever resented an authority- thought they were jerks or being stupid for telling you to do something? Why?
Personal testimony- The Seminary. Rules were subjective. Changed with the whims and ideals of the priests. Health food and Kombucha.
Arbitrary rules are hard to obey. Rules should have a good reason for existing. As a student or the child of your parents, it helps to understand the reason for the rules so that you can obey it whole heartedly. But, even if you don't understand the reason for the rules, remember that obedience is a virtue founded on humility and love. If you believe that the authority is A: Legitimate and B: looking out for your best interest- then it follows then it follows that you should be able to trust them and the rules they make!
What rules do you have to obey that you think are stupid?
How can choosing to obey those stupid rules help you anyway to be a better person?
A lot of times as Christians we will have to do things that we know exactly why they are good, and why we have to do them, and we still won't want to. By choosing to obey in little things, even when we don't fully get it, we will begin to establish the virtue, the habit of always choosing to do the good.
It also teaches us humility, that we are not the final authority on what is right and wrong. God has given us authorities, and in particular the Church, who have access to knowing what is right and wrong more than we do, and who have been given the authority to make decisions in that area. In regards to obeying the Church, we need to give what is called our "assent of faith"- which means we choose to believe them even when we don't understand. (This can be compared to us believing NASA about the roundness of the Earth, even though we don't notice it to be round on our own.)
Role Playing Obedience Game
Pick volunteers, assign them roles and situations. Have them illustrate disobedience first (or obedience out of fear of punishment), followed by the virtue of obedience.
Situations:
Class room disruptive student.
At home, kids asked to do dishes.
Police tell you to stop skateboarding in a certain place.
Priest teaching about a controversial subject (this scenario should vary according to age- younger can be 'attend mass', older can be "contraception".)
These situations should be used to teach about the value of obeying joyfully and willingly, demonstrating love and humility, being willing even to make sacrifices for obedience sake, and understanding that legitimate authority has a right to be obeyed.
In all of these things, it is important to remember that "Exterior Discipline leads to Interior Conversion." In other words, even if you don't want to do a thing, if you force yourself to do it, this can transform the kind of person you are by becoming a habit, a virtue. If you lack the virtue of obedience, than just force yourself to obey anyway, and eventually you will get it.
Obedience and Freedom- Bird Analogy.
Best example of Obedience- Jesus. Jesus was God, and yet he chose to become man, and as a human even he obeyed legitimate authority! He obeyed his parents (cf Lk2:51) and John wrote in his letters that Jesus was 'obedient, even to the point of death, death on the cross.'
"Not my will, but thy will be done"
Can anyone tell me what a virtue is?
A virtue can be defined as moral excellence, or even better, a habit of moral excellence. So for example, if someone gives money to the poor, we might say that they are "generous". But if they make a habit out of doing generous things, they foster the virtue of "generosity", which means that they become the type of person who is generous- a virtue becomes a part of who you are, rather than just being something you do sometimes.
The opposite of a virtue is a vice. Can anyone name an example of a vice? Like a virtue, vices are habits which change the kind of person you are. This is why as Christians we need to fight against vices and try to form virtues.
Who knows what the virtue of the month this month is?
Obedience.
What does obedience mean?
Most people think of obedience as doing something that someone else wants for fear of consequences. But obedience as an actual virtue is more than that. Remember that virtue is about changing the actual kind of person you are- so just being obedient, like a slave or a dog- is not virtuous in itself. You want to become the kind of person who is obedient out of love and humility.
People you should obey are "Legitimate Authority." Who can think of some examples? (Teachers, parents, Deans, coaches, police, magisterium, etc.) What would be an example of illegitimate authority? (Dictators, bullies, anyone telling you to do things that is contrary to God's will.)
What makes the difference between legitimate authority and illegitimate? (Legitimate should themselves be obedient to God!) How should Legitimate authority behave?
Have you ever resented an authority- thought they were jerks or being stupid for telling you to do something? Why?
Personal testimony- The Seminary. Rules were subjective. Changed with the whims and ideals of the priests. Health food and Kombucha.
Arbitrary rules are hard to obey. Rules should have a good reason for existing. As a student or the child of your parents, it helps to understand the reason for the rules so that you can obey it whole heartedly. But, even if you don't understand the reason for the rules, remember that obedience is a virtue founded on humility and love. If you believe that the authority is A: Legitimate and B: looking out for your best interest- then it follows then it follows that you should be able to trust them and the rules they make!
What rules do you have to obey that you think are stupid?
How can choosing to obey those stupid rules help you anyway to be a better person?
A lot of times as Christians we will have to do things that we know exactly why they are good, and why we have to do them, and we still won't want to. By choosing to obey in little things, even when we don't fully get it, we will begin to establish the virtue, the habit of always choosing to do the good.
It also teaches us humility, that we are not the final authority on what is right and wrong. God has given us authorities, and in particular the Church, who have access to knowing what is right and wrong more than we do, and who have been given the authority to make decisions in that area. In regards to obeying the Church, we need to give what is called our "assent of faith"- which means we choose to believe them even when we don't understand. (This can be compared to us believing NASA about the roundness of the Earth, even though we don't notice it to be round on our own.)
Role Playing Obedience Game
Pick volunteers, assign them roles and situations. Have them illustrate disobedience first (or obedience out of fear of punishment), followed by the virtue of obedience.
Situations:
Class room disruptive student.
At home, kids asked to do dishes.
Police tell you to stop skateboarding in a certain place.
Priest teaching about a controversial subject (this scenario should vary according to age- younger can be 'attend mass', older can be "contraception".)
These situations should be used to teach about the value of obeying joyfully and willingly, demonstrating love and humility, being willing even to make sacrifices for obedience sake, and understanding that legitimate authority has a right to be obeyed.
In all of these things, it is important to remember that "Exterior Discipline leads to Interior Conversion." In other words, even if you don't want to do a thing, if you force yourself to do it, this can transform the kind of person you are by becoming a habit, a virtue. If you lack the virtue of obedience, than just force yourself to obey anyway, and eventually you will get it.
Obedience and Freedom- Bird Analogy.
Best example of Obedience- Jesus. Jesus was God, and yet he chose to become man, and as a human even he obeyed legitimate authority! He obeyed his parents (cf Lk2:51) and John wrote in his letters that Jesus was 'obedient, even to the point of death, death on the cross.'
"Not my will, but thy will be done"
posted by Peter van Kampen at 10:10 AM
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