The third step of humility is that a man submits to his superior in all obedience to the love of God, imitating the Lord of whom the Apostle says: He becomes obedient even to death (Phil 2:8).
The Rule of St. Benedict, 7:34
I want to point something out here, as we move further into these steps. St. Benedict mentions here the “superior”, and so this is a good place to have a reminder that these steps were written in the context of a rule for an order of monks. This will become even more evident in some of the language of the later steps. But, I don’t think this is at all disqualifying or minimizing for how we, as people who don’t live in an abbey or monastery, understand and can take guidance from this passage of the Rule, or really any part of it. The enduring power of the text is that it contains truths and guidance that have found meaning for people in all walks of life for a millenium and a half.
So, when St. Benedict calls for obedience to the Superior (the head of the order or monastery), we can understand that the call to obedience is good for any and all of us, in whatever situation we find ourselves in. Now, this also contains a challenge for Christians in the 21st century West as well. Because, as a people, we don’t much like to be told to obey. Obedience strikes at the heart of liberal individualism, which tells us each that we are our own master and only have a duty to our own will and desires. This, of course, is anathema to the ancient Christian understanding of the human and our place in a community of believers called the Church. It is also in contrast to the example of Christ, who was obedient to God, as the Scripture above reminds us, both in his willingness to go to his death for the sake of others, and also in his willingness to submit and serve others because of his fealty to God. Obedience to God means submission of our own wills and desires to the needs of others, especially those who are hurting or weak. In order to become pursue humility, we must train our will and desires to submit to obedience, in order that a larger will can be done.
Justin DaMetz 