Today I want to discuss the third vow that sisters take in religious life, that of obedience. Again, this vow has somewhat evolved over time. Gone are the days of scrubbing the chapel floor with a toothbrush for a minor error. I asked Sister Veronica what this vow meant to her. She has been in the community for about 50 years. Right away she said, "It means listening." I have heard other sisters here make similar comments. They say it means listening to the needs of the community and putting those needs above your individual desires. So as with the other two vows of poverty and chastity, it builds the bonds of community.
There is also obedience to God's word. This is basic to Christian life, as Jesus himself taught to follow "the Law and the Prophets." If God is love, which we as Christians believe He is, then doesn't it make sense to follow the law of love that His Son taught us?
The opposite of obedience is not merely disobedience. It is chaos.
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