Believing and obedience go hand in hand with God

Kristen Bourgeois
NOLA Catholic Parenting
Clarion Herald

The journey of faith is quite a journey.  Reflecting back, I have done a lot of things in my faith out of obligation but lacked the knowledge of the meaning behind many of our faith practices. Prayer had been one of the boxes on my daily to-do list that was checked off, but without understanding the true reason why daily prayer was so important.

Why do we do the things we do in our Catholic faith?

In the Christmas story, we encounter many facets of our faith, but obedience is what has struck me – the “why” behind the obedience.

The Blessed Mother was visited by the angel Gabriel who told her that she had found favor with God, and that she would conceive a son. Mary’s response was one of belief and obedience. St. Joseph, upon hearing this news, was going to divorce Mary quietly, but an angel came to him through a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife. The three wise men heard of a newborn king and followed a star to find baby Jesus. The shepherds tending their flocks received good news from an angel. These shepherds would also believe, which led to obedience and finding baby Jesus in a manger.

It seems belief leads to obedience.

How long have I listened to the words of the enemy about myself, about others and about God? Believing the lies of the enemy leads to disbelief and disobedience.

Knowing who the father is and how I am seen as a beloved daughter makes it easier and less scary to be obedient to his will. The “why” has suddenly become clear to me. I should be obedient to our heavenly Father simply because God has asked me to because of his love for me.

We shouldn’t see our faith as tasks needing to be done begrudgingly out of duty.  When I have that kind of attitude, I know it’s because I had other plans and other ideas. Ultimately, it’s because I have lost sight of who God is and why he asks me to be obedient.

I want to keep that simple thought in the forefront of my mind. I want to keep that reminder when I’m doing things that are easy and when things are tough. What does that look like in everyday life? Sharing our faith with my children is something God has asked me to do. Because God has asked me, and out of love for God, I attend Mass with my children. Even when I know Mass will be challenging as my youngest has discovered her voice echoes in church and when my oldest has a hard time sitting in the pew.

Believing and obedience aren’t always easy. But for you, God, I will do it because you asked me to.

Kristen Bourgeois is a wife and mother who grew up in New York and now calls New Orleans home. Kristen was a police detective for 15 years investigating crimes for a local police department. Currently, Kristen is a stay-at-home momma with two boys and a girl. Kristen had a conversion while a detective and seeks to help parents find peace in the chaos of our daily lives. Hearing God’s voice and finding ways to pray is a passion of Kristen who loves to discover a new chaplet or prayer app and share the Good News! Kristen loves adventure, traveling on horse-back, glamping, puppies and watching Disney’s Bluey with her kiddos. This will be her last column for NOLA Catholic Parenting.