Congregation of Jesus Mary Joseph
(JMJ)
Where Love and Obedience Meet is the Heart of Christmas
09 Dec 2025 - 31 Dec 2025
As the birth of a child presupposes the mutual love and obedience of a man and a woman, the birth of Christ, the Son of God, requires, presupposes, implies, and manifests the reciprocal love and obedience of God and humans.
Intra-Trinitarian love and obedience is consummated with human love and obedience embodied in Mary. According to Hans Urs Von Balthasar, Mary’s obedient consent to be the mother of God encompasses all of humanity. It is more than the once-said historical yes. Mary’s ‘yes’ for the coming of the saviour is not for herself alone, but for all those who need salvation. (Theo-drama VI, 354-355). The historical meeting of divine and human love and obedience resulted in the birth of Christ in a particular place and time. This salvific historical event must not be limited to the commemoration of Christ’s earthly birthday celebration, Christmas. It is to be lived in and through all humankind for eternity, making our lives the meeting place of divine and human love and obedience. Thus, I present here the reflections of Fr. Mathias Wolff SJ, on Mary’s obedience both to God and fellow human beings. Following her inspiration and example, we may, through her intercession, continue the meeting of love and obedience through our lives of prayer and committed service.
On the Obedience of the Blessed Virgin Mary by Fr. M. Wolff SJ.
Ask for the grace, not only to know our duties regarding obedience, but also to carry them out perfectly, as this is a particular sign of a sister from the Society of Jesus, Mary, Joseph.
Mary’s obedience had all the marks of perfection:
Mary’s obedience was complete. Nothing was lacking. She obeyed God when the Angel came to deliver the message to her; she obeyed humans, for example the High Priest, as she was raised in the temple and served there; she obeyed good people, such as Joseph, and she obeyed bad people, such as Emperor Augustus; she obeyed the laws, as in her purification, and she obeyed the counsels through her vow of purity and voluntary poverty; she obeyed in matters that were easy and pleasant, such as in her parents’ house, and in matters that were difficult, such as in the flight to Egypt.
She obeyed with strength and courage, both in pledging purity and in all the difficulties that arose.
She obeyed with humility; humbling herself in all things, and considering herself as a servant, she did not wish to be served, but to serve others.
The obedience of the will can be recognised when one does what is commanded with joy and pleasure. We also see this quality in the obedience of Mary; she did everything that she thought would be pleasing to God. The zeal to please God drove her to this and infused her with new strength.
The obedience of the intellect, which is the highest degree of perfect obedience, was also not lacking in Mary. She, indeed, subordinated her intellect to obey God; for although what the Angel came to announce to her far exceeded all human understanding and the power of angels and men, she did not hesitate for a moment to give her consent, saying: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.
With this reflection on Mary’s obedience, Fr. Wolff instructs the sisters regarding the practice of obedience as follows:
I know, and the holy rule also tells me clearly enough, that obedience is the true mark of a sister in the Society of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and that even if I possessed many skills, scholarship, sciences, and other privileges to the highest degree, if I were not obedient, then, I say, all these privileges would not make me fit to enter or remain in this holy Society of JMJ.
I must obey without delay when obedience calls me. I must obey everyone without exception, I must not consider the person of my Superior, but God in her. Not only to the Superior of the house to which I am sent, but also to all who are appointed by her for this purpose, both in the kitchen and in the school, both in the cellar and in the attic, both concerning the laundry and the errands, both inside and outside the house; not only in matters that are pleasing to me, but also in others that are difficult and do not please my self-love.
I must obey courageously, going wherever I am sent and with whomever I am sent and in whatever capacity I am sent. I must be indifferent about everything, yet also obedient.
Finally, I must obey with humility and willingly choose the lowest and the hardest for myself in all matters.
How far away am I still from holy obedience?!!!
This Christmas, let us resolve to renew our commitment to be obedient, like Mary, both to God and humans. So that our lives, like Mary’s, may become the meeting areas of divine love and human obedience where the light of Christ will be born.
Ref: Mathias Wolff, Overwegingen en Grondregels, ter Beoefening der Volmaaktheid, Opgedragen aan het Gezelschap van Jesus, Maria, Joseph, 397-402.