The Obedient is Exalted
Let us remember that for the truly obedient it has been prepared… [in heaven] the participation in the glorious exaltation to which the Son of God was elevated on account of his obedience. (OOCC, VII, p. 110; SD, p. 16)
St. Vincent Pallotti is of the opinion that all persons who surrender themselves to God through the practice of the virtue of obedience, will be exalted at his presence. This exaltation of the obedient is similar to the exaltation of Jesus through his resurrection. In St. Vincent’s valuation of virtues, the virtue of obedience has a prime place. This is because he sees the path of obedience as the very path Jesus himself walked. Jesus’ whole life is a loving surrender of himself to the Father in obedience to his will. It is the will of the Father to redeem the human race from the state of sin and separation from God. Jesus’ journey in accomplishing this plan of the Father at every stage involves an act of surrender to his Father’s will in complete obedience. Each stage of Jesus’ redemptive task - his letting go of his divine nature, taking the human form, accepting the way of suffering as a means to salvation, the actual living out of this path of suffering, and finally his death on the cross - involves a moment of choosing the will of the Father in total freedom and obeying it with a genuine joy. It is following the path of obedience that ultimately brought resurrection in the life of Jesus. Since the path of obedience is through which Jesus achieved his glory, St. Vincent sees that following this path is very vital for our glorification as well. Therefore, obedience is exalted.
Do I recognize the value of the path of obedience? Do I believe that Jesus saved me by his perfect obedience to the Father? Do I realize that my exaltation comes about through obedience? Do I take the trouble of living a life of obedience?
And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on a name, which is above every other name. (Phil. 2: 8 – 9)