If, however, the head of the house transgresses God's commandments, and if, likewise, his family and servants show no trace of obedience to him, in such a home you will find the couple disagreeing and quarreling; the children undisciplined and unruly; the servants completely indifferent and inadequately fulfilling their responsibilities; in brief, an utterly mismanaged and dysfunctional home.
Enter a church. If the presiding priest is a living example of obedience to God's commandments, and if, in turn, the parish members obediently listen to him as required, you will witness within such a community God's commandments and t he divine canons being followed; order reigning throughout the ecclesiastical services; sincere concern for the salvation of the people; and every good work and virtue shinning brightly. If, however, the presiding clergyman races along the road of disobedience to God's laws, while the members of the parish openly resist and are insubordinate to their shepherd, then in such a church there exists indifference and complete disregard for God's laws and the ecclesiastical canons; disorder during the church services; negligence and inattentiveness for the salvation of souls; and, in general, the darkness of every evil deed and sin.
Visit any city or municipality. If the governor obeys God, and the citizens obey their ruler, in such a municipality there is no oppression; justice prevails; love between people radiates like the sun; all the civil laws are observed; commerce, law enforcement, the armed forces, trades, and the educational system thrive; fortune and prosperity increase .
If, however, the governor or mayor disobey God, and if, in turn, the citizens refuse to obey their community leader, who can adequately describe the oppression, the injustice, the conflicts and disorder, the scandals and the lawlessness of that city? In such a region, the commodities are untrustworthy, the law enforcers resemble thieves, sailors hold company with pirates, the various trades decline, science and education begin to deteriorate.
In such a place all types of sin and misfortune prevail.
Therefore: Obedience! You are truly a great and magnificent virtue!
When you became absent, Heaven fell apart. When you departed, Paradise was closed. When you hid, man plunged into the abyss of misfortune.
When, on the contrary, you reign, kingdoms, cities, households, and people, in general, prosper; virtue and holiness exist within the churches. When people guard God's commandments they become His friends and sons, and they ascend to the glory from which they fell. Adam's disobedience rendered all men sinful; Christ's obedience rendered everyone who believes in Him and who obeys Him righteous and holy:
“For as by one man’s obedience many were made sinners, so also b y one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19) .
http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/weeklymessagesarchive/01_19_2015_Obedience%20is%20a%20Great%20Virtue%20%28Part%204%29.pdf
