Carnaghi

The vow of obedience is often misunderstood as a servile dependence. I see obedience as a call to listen and respond with creativity and vitality to God's will in my life. I can be guilty of allowing my decisions to be governed by my personal inclinations. I have to strip myself of the narrowness of my own agendas and perspectives and let go of my own attempts to control, so that I can completely surrender to God's will. Obedience requires great faith. I like to know where I stand, where I am staying, and what lies ahead.  Following Jesus calls me to embrace the unknown and be willing at times to leave the security of a job, a comfortable community and neighborhood, sometimes even my country, to go where God is leading me. I have to make certain that I am always available to hear God's voice and not let the heat of the moment, or the grip of panic, or the fear of failure interfere.  

By my vow of obedience not only do I individually discern the will of God in my life, but I also tie my life choices to the long term welfare of my institute's charism, to the needs of my province, and to the ministry of my specific community. I also need some type of communal discernment to discover the common good. Because I have committed myself to a mission "in association," then I have to give up some of my individual needs in favor of our mission's needs. If my needs become paramount, the mission will suffer.

In an apostolic institute, the heart of obedience is to be in readiness for the mission. To achieve this I need the mind-set of Christ who prayed "Not my will but thy will be done."  When I observe my consecrated and communal lifestyle, I make visible in the Church the lifestyle that Jesus took upon Himself during His earthly life.  My vows help me carry out the Brothers' mission in the Church with availability, simplicity, and freedom.  
 
Bro. Robert Carnaghi, FSC, is president of DeLaSalle High School in Warren.