In this article I have embarked on presenting the 30 steps or rungs of St. John’s Ladder of Divine Assent. The first three rungs deal with breaking with the world and are within the first part of his book. The second part deals with the fundamental virtues. The first fundamental virtue that John suggests is one which too often we think of as pertaining only to people who have entered the religious life. That virtue is OBEDIENCE. This is not a virtue for only those who have entered the religious life. St. John describes obedience in this manner:

Obedience is unquestioned movement, death freely accepted, a simple life, danger faced without worry, an unprepared defense before God, fearlessness before death, a safe voyage, a sleeper’s journey. Obedience is the burial place of the will and the resurrection of lowliness.

Why is obedience a virtue? Many regard it as something for the weak, something that does not become a “real man.” The only time it is tolerated is when it is considered a necessity. If soldiers did not obey their commanding officers, the army would be a shambles, and this in turn would threaten national security.

This is not the obedience that St. John was talking about. The virtue of obedience is rooted not in fearful pragmatism, but in true humility. True obedience, like true love, cannot be forced – it must be free. Obedience and humility go hand in hand. They feed and nourish one another. We cannot learn obedience without real humility and we cannot acquire humility without obedience. Together these two virtues can take us to the very heights of spiritual perfection.

Take courage from this. For if you are able to do something as basic and simple as to obey, then you are already on your way to learning one of the greatest virtues of all: Humility.

Why do we need obedience?