Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 282

“Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master
nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.

Historically, as the religious orders formed in the Church, their first vow was obedience. Celibacy (chastity) and poverty came later; they were assumed as a subset of obedience. 

Saint Francis urged his friars always to obey their guardians (he preferred that title to superiors) even when they disagreed with the guardian about what should be done. Obedience was more important than being right. I have often heard men and women say something quite similar regarding marriage. 

As I have celebrated the Mass these 40+ years I have sometimes changed a word or two in the formal prayers, and then wondered why I did that. Was that minor alteration justified, necessary, and more important than the received text? Was my emendation so important that it overruled the compliance I owe to the Church? 

I have sometimes attended Masses when the priest so severely altered the prayers I was sure the Mass was not a Roman Catholic ceremony. He and his all important style seemed to come between God and his congregation. (I have also been moved to tears by the long-suffering patience of our faithful congregations.) 

Jesus stresses his teaching, "...no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him." with "Amen, amen, I say to you!" 

We'd better listen to that!