Obedience

This morning’s question: What is the fourth commandment? Honor thy father and thy mother. Honor in that catechism answer means to obey. Every one of Christ’s children must learn to obey. To obey does not mean to do what you are told. It means to do exactly what you are told. There is a difference there. Maybe this story will help to make that clear to you.

While the great St. Francis of Assisi was alive two men came to the door of his monastery and asked if they could join his order—the Friars Minor. St. Francis asked them several questions and finally said, “Will you keep the vow of poverty?” Both the men said they would. “Will you keep the vow of chastity?” asked Francis. “We will,” replied the men. Finally St. Francis asked, “Will you keep the vow of obedience?” Both said “Yes.” “Then come with me,” said St. Francis, and he led the two men into the garden. In the garden the two men got the correct idea of the religious life and of obedience. St. Francis gave them each, of all things, two carrots and said, “Plant these.” The two began to dig into the ground. “Now, said the Saint, “I do not want them just planted. I want them planted upside down.” One man planted his carrots upside down. The other man scratched his head and said, “Oh, no, Father Francis, you are a very holy man and know many things, but you do not know how to plant carrots. Here’s how you do it. You plant them this way.” And he planted his right side up. St. Francis smiled at him tolerantly and said, “Young man, you would make a very good gardener, because you plant carrots right side up, but you will not make a good Franciscan unless you learn to obey. Now plant them upside down. You must learn that to obey means to do exactly what you are told to do.” But St. Francis was not finished with his lesson on obedience. He said, “What a shame! I’ve made you spoil the carrots that were meant for our supper. There are some nice ones in the next garden. Jump over the hedge and steal two of them.” The man hopped over the fence to steal two of the carrots. Immediately St. Francis called him back and finished the lesson. “To plant carrots upside down is one thing. To steal them is another. You must obey your superiors—but only in things which are not sinful.”

That story shows that obedience means that we should do exactly as we are told as long as we are not told to sin. It does not mean that we may do the thing any old way that we please. If we are told to do our homework now, that means that we must do it now and not after we finish the chapter of the novel we are reading. If we are told to be home at seven o’clock, we do not obey if we just straggle home when we are ready. We must be home on time. If our parents wanted us home at 7:15 they would say 7:15. But they said seven and that meant seven. If we are told to wash the dishes, we do not obey if we put them away without being dried properly. To be obedient we must do exactly what we are told. That means that we must do the things we are told to do (and not something else); when we are told to do it (not when we feel like it) and in the proper manner (not carelessly or sloppily). If you do not do all of these things you cannot call yourselves obedient. Both of the men in the story planted the carrots in the ground but one was obedient and the other was not. One did exactly as he was told. The other did it the way he felt like doing it. Remember this next time you are told to do something. If you are told to plant carrots upside down, then plant them upside down. It is not your mistake if you do what you are told to do. You obeyed and to obey means to do exactly what you are told to do.

                                                                  ~ “Heavenwords,” Imprimatur 1941 ~

                                               "Be not wise in your own conceits.”

Saint Osmund was a great English bishop who lived in the eleventh century. He was a holy man and was loved by rich and poor for his many virtues. One night while he was praying, so goes the story, the Devil appeared to him and began to argue. “Why do people call you good and me bad, when I have as many virtues as you have?” said the Devil. “You fast and mortify yourself, but I never eat. So I am just as good as you. You keep long watches during the night but I never sleep. So I am just as good as you. You are always working, but I never rest. So I am just as good as you. You try to make people happy, but I am always promising them happiness too. So I am just as good as you. I have the same virtues that you have. Why do people call me a devil and you a saint?” St.
Osmund replied, “I don’t know.”

If you listened carefully to that story you should be able to tell the difference between St. Osmund and the Devil. The Devil had no humility. Any time you find yourself saying, “I am better than anybody else,” that means that you are not. How can we tell whether we are as good as anyone else? Only God knows that. The words of the Devil are very much like the words of the Pharisee in our Lord’s story. You remember how the Pharisee went up to the Temple to pray and said, “I thank Thee, Lord, that I am not like the rest of men.” Humility is a virtue which is most pleasing to God, just as it is pleasing to men. Pride is hateful to God, just as it is hateful to men.

How can you tell whether you are proud or not? You are if you cannot give the proper answer to these questions.

1. Can I mind my own business?

2. Am I a good loser?

3. Do I say mean things about others all the time?

4. Am I always complaining?

5. Do I always want to be first?

6. Do I argue too much?

You may work as hard as the Devil and you may be as smart as the Devil, but without humility these things will not help you much. The man who prayed humbly in the Temple, not the proud Pharisee, was the man who went home with the smile of God upon him.

                                                  ~ “Heirs of the Kingdom,” Imprimatur 1949 ~

                                                        "Be persevering in prayer."

  St. Paul tells us today that we must do more than pray. We must be persevering in prayer. That means that we must keep on praying, over and over again.

            Christopher Wren was a famous English architect. He was called upon to rebuild St. Paul's Cathedral in London. To do that he had to knock down the old building. Instead of taking it down stone by stone, he decided to knock in a whole wall at once and save time. He prepared a huge battering-ram and had the workmen pound the wall with it. They pounded the wall with the battering-ram for an hour and nothing happened. They complained to Christopher Wren that they were wasting time. He said to them, "We are not wasting time, we're really saving time. We have to keep pounding all day."  In spite of their grumbling the men kept at the job but nothing seemed to be happening. Then, finally the entire wall fell away from them and they had done a month's work in a day.

            By their continual pounding the men were able to knock down a wall. When St, Paul tells us to be persevering in prayer, he means that we must keep pounding on the gates of heaven with the battering-ram of prayer, again and again.

            Daniel O'Connell, the great patriot of Ireland, spent years and years fighting for the cause of Catholic freedom. All during that time he kept on praying and praying for the success of his cause.  One day his friends saw him walking up and down in the Parliament yard.  They said to him, "It is a wonder that you are not inside fighting for the Cause. "He took his hand out of his coat pocket and showed them his rosary and said to them: "I am doing more for Ireland now than you think."  When the day of Catholic Emancipation came, O'Connell knew that his persevering prayers had not been in vain.

            If you have been praying for something for a long time do not let yourselves get discouraged. A drowning man cries for help more than once. So must you.

            The opposite of persevering prayer is the prayer of a man who was caught in a storm at sea. He prayed and said, "O Lord, I haven't bothered You for fifteen years and if You save me from this storm I won't bother You for another fifteen years." That is not persevering prayer. Our Lord wants us to "bother" Him with our prayers. He wants us to ask Him for things. Sometimes, just to see if we really want what we are asking for, He holds back the answer. At times like that we ought to think of St. Paul's words, "Be persevering in prayer."
                                                                  - Heirs of the Kingdom, Imprimatur 1949 -

                                                                     Old Man Reilly
                                                                     Good Example

  What is the worst disease known to mankind? It is a disease known as leprosy. Who knows the name of the place where lepers are taken care of? Some of the older children may know it. Molokai. Here is a story you may like. During the Civil War there was a lieutenant in the Union army named Joseph Dutton. He was known as the handsomest, the bravest, and the best officer in the army. Lieutenant Dutton had an orderly, and old man whom the soldiers had nicknamed Old Man Reilly. Old Man Reilly was to have a great effect on the life of Lieutenant Dutton. One day Dutton asked old man Reilly a question. The answer he got to it changed his whole life. The lieutenant asked his orderly, "You have been with me for some years. In that time none of my things have ever been stolen. What makes you so honest?" Old Man Reilly replied, "I am a Catholic and the teachings of the Catholic Church is that if you steal anything, you have to give it back. So what's the use of stealing?" Dutton was very much impressed with this and had many a chat with Old Man Reilly after that. The result of it all was that years later he became a Catholic. But the story does not end there. Many years later the newspaper headlines read as follows; "The death of Father Damien of Molokai leaves open a place among the lepers which will be filled by Brother Joseph Dutton, formerly of the United States Army."  That shows how far good example of Old Man Reilly, Joseph Dutton went of to Molokai to care for the lepers. The good example of an old man reached from the army to Molokai. You can never tell how far your example will go. Each little act you do becomes very important because it may set the examples to others. Your duty to set good example crops up many times during the day. It may be just a case of showing you brothers and sisters how to obey your parents, a case of showing that you are not too busy to step aside and visit the Blessed Sacrament on the way home from school. The very fact that you are going to church on Sunday morning means that you are setting an example to those who see you. Everything you do is setting an example, good or bad. That is why you have to be so careful. Perhaps some little act of yours may be the cause of a great act in someone else, just as the honest of Old Man Reilly was the cause of Lieutenant Dutton's heroism.  When Theodore Roosevelt was making a tour around the world, he stopped in front of the island of Molokai and fired a salvo of guns to honor Brother Joseph Dutton. Hero that Brother Dutton was to the brave the perils of leprosy, he would not hesitate to give credit to Old Man Reilly for his good example. While people praise Brother Dutton, don't you think it is a shame that so few words of praise are found for the man who inspired him? That is shy we chose to speak this morning about a forgotten person, and old man honest as the day, as good as gold, who inspired Brother Dutton's deeds of greatness- Old Man Reilly.  
                                                                            - Heavenwords, Imprimatur 1947 -

                                                               The Natural Virtues

            Another question for the smart children.  What are the name of four cardinal virtues, sometimes called the natural virtues?  Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.  You have all heard of these before in your Catechism class. 

            How many of you have ever seen a relay race?  You know how they run.  Two teams of four are in it.  Once man runs the distance, then another takes up from there and so on.  The first team across the line wins. 

            There were once two schools which ran against each other in a relay race.  They were Gate of Heaven school and Hellbent Hall.  The Coach of Gate of Heaven school was Christ.  The coach of Hellbent Hall was Satan.  Here is the way the names of runners appeared on the program.

Gate of Heaven School                                               Hellbent Hall

Harry Heedcoach                                                        Humphrey Headstrong

Peter Playfair                                                              Percy Playfoul

Frank Fearless                                                             Ferdinand Fraidycat              

Tom Trainright                                                            Terry Tippler

            The race began.  Harry Heedcoach was prudent.  He followed his coach’s orders.  Humphrey Headstrong did it his own way.  He would n to listen to inst5ructions.  Gate of Heaven won the first lap.  Percy Playfair ran well, but Percy Playfoul tried to trip him.  Hellbent was disqualified on the second lap for foul play.  Frank Fearless blessed himself before his turn came.  Ferdinand Fraidycat was so afraid people would think him a sissy that he took off his Miraculous Medal in the locker room.  Frank ran away with the third lap.  Tom Trainright was off like a flash and came in ten yards ahead of Terry Tippler, who had been drinking the night before just to ease his nerves.  So Gate of Heaven won and Hellbent was beaten.

            Now can you recognize the runners for Gate of Heaven?  I’ll give you a hint.  Harry Heedcoach was prudent.  He followed the coach’s orders.  Who is Peter Playfair?  I’ll give you another hint.  Percy Playfoul was unjust.  That makes Peter, justice.  Frank Fearless?  Fortitude.  Tom Trainright?  Temperance.  The team from Hellbent Hall are the opposite vices.  Imprudence, injustice, cowardice, and excess.

            You task for this week is to memorize these four virtues.  Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.  You must have these virtues before you make your souls like unto Christ.  We must have what is natural before we come to the supernatural.  The natural virtues are like the four cornerstones of a house.  The rest is built on them.  You can’t imagine a person being a very good Catholic who prayed all day and then went out and stole, could you?  If you want your souls to beat Satan in the race of life put these boys on your team: Harry Heedcoach or prudence; Peter Playfair or justice; Frank Fearless or Fortitude; and Tom Trainright or temperance.

                                                                  ~ “Heavenwords,” Imprimatur 1947 ~

              “Whatever you do in words or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

            Wilhelm was a mountaineer’s guide in Switzerland.  Whenever people wanted to climb the Swiss Alps, they would ask Wilhelm to guide them because he was sure of foot and hand and eye, and because he knew the safest paths to the top.  Wilhelm had spent his whole life guiding climbing parties to the tops of the mountains and then guiding them along the more difficult downward trail.

            Word came to Wilhelm one day that a party of climbers had begun the ascent without a guide and were lost in a blizzard which had come up without warning.  Without losing a moment, Wilhelm went out to search for them.  That was the last time poor Wilhelm was seen.  When the storm was over they found him.  On the slippery, treacherous mountain slope in the blinding blizzard he had slipped and fallen into a cleft in the rocks.  They buried him there on the mountainside that he had loved so much.

            The people of the village at the foot of the mountain were so proud of Wilhelm that they wanted to put a tombstone over his head.  There was a long discussion about what words they would carve into the stone.  After much argument they decided on these words, “He died as he had lived—climbing.”

            That is a beautiful epitaph to put over any man’s grave.  What a wonderful thing it would be if, after we are dead and gone, the same thing could be said about us, “He died climbing.”  Life is a constant upward climb.  Even when the road is hard and a storm is howling, we must keep trying and keep climbing upward, ever upward.  That is life.  The secret of always climbing is found in this morning’s text, “Whatever you do in word or in word, do all in name of the Lord Jesus.”

            There will come many times in you lives when you are disappointed and discouraged.  You just don’t feel like trying any more or climbing any more.  Say to yourselves, “Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Then, in the name of the Lord Jesus, try once more.  There will come times when everything seems to go wrong.  In the name of the Lord Jesus, try just once more.  Things will seem so mixed up that there does not seem to be any way of straightening them out.  In the name of the Lord Jesus, try just once more.  You have prayed and prayed for something and the answer seems just as far away as when you began.  In the name of the Lord Jesus, pray just once more. 

            An athlete who breaks a world’s record does not do it the first time he tries.  He keeps saying to himself, “I’ll try just once more, until the record is broken.”  Life is just the same.  We must not allow ourselves to become discouraged.  “Whatever you do in word or in work, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  Like Wilhelm the mountain climber, we must keep trying.  We must die climbing, onward and upward to God.

                                                            ~ “Heirs of the Kingdom,” Imprimatur 1949 ~  

           

                             A LITTLE RAG DOLL
                                        Charity

  Here's a question for the girls this morning. How many girls have rag dolls? It looks as if they all have them. Not very long ago in New York City, a priest was instructing some children for their First Communion. On the day before they received he gave them their last lesson. He said that on such a great day they should bring to Christ the best they had. He meant they should bring hearts filled with childlike love and childlike purity. After Mass the next morning the children all left the church, very happy of their First Communion Day. The priest was leaving the sacristy. He stopped and picked up something from the altar rail. It was a little rag doll. One of its eyes had fallen out and been replaced by a button. One leg had been sewn on with different colored thread. There was a rip in the shoulder and the filling was peeping out. It was not worth much in the eyes of men. None of you children would have given me a nickel for it. But don't you think that this doll was as acceptable to Christ as the gifts which the Wise Men gave Him at Christmas? I do. Some little girl had given the best she had, even though the best she had was only a rag doll.

Two weeks ago we spoke about faith. Last week about hope. What is next? Charity. Suppose we call the doll Charity. It’s a girls name and a nice one. Don't you think that would please the little girl who gave it to our Lord on her First Communion Day? Charity is the virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake and our neighbor and ourselves.

A Doctor of the Law once asked Our Lord tempting Him, "Master, what is the great commandment in the Law?" Jesus said to him, "Thou shalt love the Lord they God with thy whole heart and they whole mind and thy whole soul." This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like to this. "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." We must love God for Himself alone, not just because He is good to us. It is easy for us to love our mother when she is making an apple pie for us, but that is not loving her for her own sake. We may love God when he sends us a fine day for our picnic, but we should love him whether it rains or shines. We must love our neighbors as ourselves, and neighbor includes everyone in the world. We show this love by helping our neighbor in need of body or of soul. Here is something that is very often forgotten. The souls in Purgatory are also our neighbors. We should pray for them. Give to God the best you can. The little girl in the story did just that. Don't you think she loved God for His own sake? She most certainly did. She gave all she had even though it was only a rag doll. Following her example, would you all kneel down and recite after me the following act of Charity: "O my God, I love thee above all things with my whole heart and soul because Thou art all good and worthy of al my love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.    Amen." 
                                            taken from:  "Heavenwords," Imprimatur 1941