Having been a priest for ten years, I can say with more certitude that the most difficult vow of a priest is obedience. While all the vows – poverty, chastity, and obedience – are all forms of dying to one’s self, obedience can be the most painful daily dying to one’s self. While all the vows are loving self-surrender to God, obedience is the total resignation of one’s freedom to the Divine Will. Priests obey their bishop or religious superior as they obey God, in view that the Divine Will is expressed in the will of His human intermediary. And that can be truly painful more than seldom! When I was ordained to the priesthood, I had an idea of what I was getting my self into. After ten years, however, I have a tight grasp of the reality. It is through faithful obedience that I fully offer my self as an oblation to God. It is only through an immeasurable generosity of an obedient heart that I can become more and more like Jesus, who was obedient even unto death, death on the cross.
Sa tuwing namumuhay tayo ayon sa Kanyang salita, sa tuwing tayo ay nagiging mga daan ng Kanyang kapayapaan, sa tuwing pinagsisilbihan natin ang ating kapwa nang taus-puso, mapagmahal, at may kapakumbabaan, at sa tuwing hinahayaan nating gabayan tayo ng Espiritu Santo sa gitna ng ating mga karanasan ng kalituhan, pag-uusig, at maging hidwaan sa loob ng sambayanang Kristiyanong ating kinabibilangan, nararamdaman natin, kaya’t nababatid natin, na si Jesus ay kapiling pa rin nga natin ngayon at magpasawalang-hanggan.