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  BUT THIS VERY OBEDIENCE
  by St. Benedict of Nursia
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of obedience to God and
Superiors, and the need for a cheerful and willing attitude in obeying
commands.

Topics: "Obedience To God", "Christian Discipline"
Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 9:7

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DESCRIPTION
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St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of obedience without
hesitation, delay, lukewarmness, grumbling, or objection, highlighting
that obedience to superiors is obedience to God Himself. He encourages
disciples to offer their obedience with a good will, as God loves a
cheerful giver. St. Benedict warns that even if a disciple fulfills a
command with murmuring in the heart, it will not be acceptable to God,
who sees the true intentions. He stresses the need for disciples to
amend and make satisfaction to avoid incurring punishment for murmuring.

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CONTENT
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But this very obedience will be acceptable to God and pleasing to all
only if what is commanded is done without hesitation, delay,
lukewarmness, grumbling, or objection. For the obedience given to
Superiors is given to God, since He Himself has said, "He who hears you,
hears Me" (Luke 10:16). And the disciples should offer their obedience
with a good will, for "God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:7). For if
the disciple obeys with an ill will and murmurs, not necessarily with
his lips but simply in his heart, then even though he fulfill the
command yet his work will not be acceptable to God, who sees that his
heart is murmuring. And, far from gaining a reward for such work as
this, he will incur the punishment due to murmurers, unless he amend and
make satisfaction.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/st-benedict-of-nursia/but-this-very-obedience/
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