Here are some excerpts that comes from a rather lengthy writing on Holy Obedience from this page at a Catholic apostolate, Opus Sanctorum Angelorum. Consider reading the entire writing. There is much reference to Scripture. They break down obedience by type and explain why it is even necessary to obey secular authorities and under what context they must be obeyed.
opusangelorum.org/English/Obedience.html
Humanly speaking obedience often appears so pragmatic, so cut and dry - a ‘do this’ and a‘don’t do that!’ Sacred Scripture reveals obedience’s nobler pedigree in friendship with God, which was lost by the disobedience of Adam. Ever since, obedience regularly wears work clothes, for it is in toil and the sweat of his brow that man eats his bread. By the obedience of Christ, the new Adam, we were redeemed; friendship with God was restored. He, the Servant of God, the Child of the Father, imbued obedience with love. Obedience is the felicitous lot of the child and the lover as well: “Your wish is my command!” Related to God, it becomes a beatitude precisely for those who thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied (cf.
Mt 5:6).
As a virtue obedience falls under the cardinal virtue of justice, whereby we have a perpetual and constant will to give each one their due (cf.
Summa theol. II-II. 58.1,c). Supernaturally, we are ‘justified’ by Christ’s obedience, for His grace makes it possible for us to render worthily to God that which we owe Him: faith, veneration and obedience. “‘The obedience of faith’ (
Rom 16:26; cf.
Rom 1:5; 2
Cor 10:5-6) must be given to God Who reveals, an obedience by which man entrusts his whole self freely to God” (
Dei Verbum, 5). By devotion, the principal act of the virtue of religion we readily pay to God the reverence and worship due His Name. And by holy obedience, we submit ourselves to His majesty and authority, that is, to His laws, whether coming directly from Him or from those who exercise authority in His name, be it in the Church or in society.
Significantly, our submission of obedience to the divine will is the guarantee that our religion be holy and pure. King Saul was rejected because he failed in this respect and did not execute God’s command. Samuel chided him: “Obedience is better than sacrifices, and to heed [the word of God] better than to offer the fat of rams. For it is like the crime of witchcraft to rebel and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey” (1
Sam 15:22f). This is why St. Thomas reckoned pious self-will among the worst faults: under the appearance of religion and obedience, one does that which is their opposite.
Reverence for Authority
While not setting aside the hope of reward and fear of punishment, the formal motive for supernatural obedience is the reverence we have for the Divine Majesty and authority and for those persons who share in this authority.
The formal fault of disobedience, accordingly, lies precisely in irreverence and contempt for authority, for which reasons St. Thomas numbers disobedience among the mortal sins. However, he adds that most disobedience is really only a material disobedience (Summa theol. II-II, 105). Now, what do he mean by “formal disobedience” and “material disobedience”? It comes down to this: when the reason why someone disobeys a law is to be sought in some other apparent good the sinner is seeking, then we speak of “material disobedience” . Such material disobedience is not a mortal sin against obedience, though it may be a mortal sin against another virtue. Adulterers, for example, commit a grievous sin against the 6th commandment, but not against obedience.
Disobedience which aims at expressing rebellion and contempt for authority is called “formal disobedience” and is a grievous fault. In their rebellion, the fallen spirits did not think that they could find happiness outside the will of God, their only ‘happiness’ was in their exercise of contempt for God, slapping Him in the face with their “Non serviam!”
Turning things around, we also find souls who externally (materially) submit and ‘obey’, while their hearts are full of criticism and contempt for the person in authority. Clearly, by this contempt such souls sin formally against obedience! **Very often, this corroding sin is neither repented nor confessed. Moreover, without deep humility it is difficult to avoid this fault, for just as humility disposes to reverence for authority, pride breeds contempt. **Humble reverence, which lends wings to obedience, should animate the members of the Work of the Holy Angels.
(just kidding – really. I only need glasses but I’m not blind)