"Be subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors as sent through Him."
EVERYBODY in town used to look up at the weather vane. They could not help it. It was made in the shape of a fine crowing rooster, and was painted a very handsome red. The church was in the center of the town and the weather vane was on the church steeple. Being so high above everybody else the rooster began to think that he was better than everybody else. He forgot that if somebody put him up there, somebody could take him down again. He crowed to himself, "When I point north the wind blows from the north. When I point south the wind blows from the south. It is the same with east and west. People do not give me enough credit for what I do. I'm overworked. I'm sick of obeying instructions. I'll make them pay attention to me. I'll point south all the time." And he did.
The farmers looked at the weather vane and said, "It is pointing south. That means a south wind and a south wind means rain. We will not be able to gather in our hay tomorrow." When it did not rain they began to wonder. It happened a few more times and then they sent someone up the steeple to take down the disobedient weather cock.
"He's no good if he doesn't point with the wind. If he won't obey we might just as well take him down." Now the fine red rooster lies flat on a junk pile. He is still pointing south, but nobody pays any attention to him.
The lesson, of course, is obedience. Even a weather cock has to obey laws. This morning's Epistle is all about obedience. Everyone has to obey someone. The policeman who enforces the law during the week has to obey red lights and stop signs if he is driving on his day off. Even your parents who make laws for you have to obey laws themselves. Sister who trains you in obedience in the classroom has taken a vow of obedience to her rule and her superiors. Everybody has to obey laws, but most of all, children have to obey.
There are laws which apply to yourself. You have to obey these. Laws about gluttony and laziness. There are laws which apply to God. You must obey these. Laws about saying your prayers and going to Mass. There are laws which apply to your neighbor. You must obey these. Laws against injury, revenge, backbiting, and stealing. To refuse to obey these laws is to make yourselves useless members of society, whether that society be the home, the school, the church, or the town. You make yourself just as useless as the weather vane who refused to point in the right direction. If you don't obey you will end up as he did — on the junk pile, still having your own way but with no one paying any attention to you.
EVERYBODY in town used to look up at the weather vane. They could not help it. It was made in the shape of a fine crowing rooster, and was painted a very handsome red. The church was in the center of the town and the weather vane was on the church steeple. Being so high above everybody else the rooster began to think that he was better than everybody else. He forgot that if somebody put him up there, somebody could take him down again. He crowed to himself, "When I point north the wind blows from the north. When I point south the wind blows from the south. It is the same with east and west. People do not give me enough credit for what I do. I'm overworked. I'm sick of obeying instructions. I'll make them pay attention to me. I'll point south all the time." And he did.
The farmers looked at the weather vane and said, "It is pointing south. That means a south wind and a south wind means rain. We will not be able to gather in our hay tomorrow." When it did not rain they began to wonder. It happened a few more times and then they sent someone up the steeple to take down the disobedient weather cock.
"He's no good if he doesn't point with the wind. If he won't obey we might just as well take him down." Now the fine red rooster lies flat on a junk pile. He is still pointing south, but nobody pays any attention to him.
The lesson, of course, is obedience. Even a weather cock has to obey laws. This morning's Epistle is all about obedience. Everyone has to obey someone. The policeman who enforces the law during the week has to obey red lights and stop signs if he is driving on his day off. Even your parents who make laws for you have to obey laws themselves. Sister who trains you in obedience in the classroom has taken a vow of obedience to her rule and her superiors. Everybody has to obey laws, but most of all, children have to obey.
There are laws which apply to yourself. You have to obey these. Laws about gluttony and laziness. There are laws which apply to God. You must obey these. Laws about saying your prayers and going to Mass. There are laws which apply to your neighbor. You must obey these. Laws against injury, revenge, backbiting, and stealing. To refuse to obey these laws is to make yourselves useless members of society, whether that society be the home, the school, the church, or the town. You make yourself just as useless as the weather vane who refused to point in the right direction. If you don't obey you will end up as he did — on the junk pile, still having your own way but with no one paying any attention to you.
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