Loving Submission
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“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:7-8)
There are many verses in Holy Scripture that speak about submission to God. Submission is one of the most important aspects of the Christian life. The one who does not submit to God wants God to submit to him—his wishes, his desires. Because such a person does not submit to the righteousness of God, they remain far from the righteousness of God. Instead, they seek to establish their own righteousness (Rom. 10:3), and as St. Ephrem the Syrian says, is “led astray by his own freedom.”1
This is very dangerous, for then he will expect others to submit to him as well—whether through discussion, argumentation, manipulation, or compulsion. This eventually leads to pride and rebellion against any and all authority. As St. Cyril of Alexandria says, whoever does not submit to God, submits his life to destruction.2
The Blessing of Submission
Alternatively, we “submit to the Lord and supplicate Him” (Psa. 36:7). We submit our necks to the yoke of the Savior for this is the way our Lord Christ leads us to our union with the Father.3 This yoke leads to a joyful, spiritual life with God.4
True submission lies in putting all authority under God as commander. This means we must mortify our own will. As St. John Climacus writes:
Those who wish to learn the will of the Lord must first mortify their own will. Then, having prayed to God with faith and honest simplicity, and having asked the fathers or even the brothers with humility of heart and no thought of doubt, they should accept their advice as from the mouth of God, even if their advice be contrary to their own view, and even if those consulted are not very spiritual. For God is not unjust, and will not lead astray souls who with faith and innocence humbly submit to the advice and judgment of their neighbor. Even if those who were asked were brute beasts, yet He who speaks is the Immaterial and Invisible One. Those who allow themselves to be guided by this rule without having any doubts are filled with great humility. For if someone expounded his problems on a harp, how much better, do you think, can a rational mind and reasonable soul teach than an inanimate object.5
This submission is a free act of love. St. Augustine instructs, saying: “Submission to God is a free act; a free submission, where not necessity but love, is the servant… Let love make you a servant, because the truth has set you free.”6
We submit our minds to the Great Teacher. This means not only to submit to what He would like to teach us, but how He determines the best means of instruction.7 For Moses the Archprophet, this meant submitting to the power of the earthly tablets and the One Who would engrave His Law on them.8
A person with true, complete submission not only submits to God, but to every ruling authority since they are appointed by Him (Rom. 13:1). He freely submits to others in the fear of God (Eph. 5:21). As a result, he is clothed with humility and receives great grace from God (1 Pet. 5:5). It is not easy to submit to harsh rulers or bosses, but this is our duty (1 Pet. 2:18-21), and for such we will be commended. Our patience, long-suffering and respect are well-pleasing to God (Titus 2:9).
This is our duty because of the example Christ has set before us. This is the Way of the Cross, the steps of Golgotha. He denies himself and carries the cross to follow the Master of all, the One Who laid down His life for us all. He bore our griefs, carried our sorrows, was counted among the transgressors (Isa. 53:4, 12). He became a curse for us (Gal. 3:13) to grant us great heavenly grace. Indeed we are heirs of submission, heirs of humility, heirs of sacrifice, heirs of His bountiful love for all humanity.
Submission and Service
To submit is to serve. When one lays down his life and denies himself this is directed for God and others. He submits to carry the yoke of service to all the people to whom he was entrusted.9 Such a submissive servant is ready to do every good work. As St. Paul explains:
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. 3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:1-7).
Submission and Salvation
Submission means salvation. As St. John Climacus says
He who submits himself, passes sentence on himself. If his obedience for the Lord’s sake is perfect, even if it does not seem perfect, he will escape judgment. But if he does his own will in some things, then although he considers himself obedient, he lays the burden on his own shoulders. It is good if the superior does not give up reproving him, but if he is silent, then I do not know what to say. Those who submit themselves in the Lord in simplicity run the good race without provoking the bile of the demons against themselves by their inquisitiveness.10
A wife who submits to God knows how to submit to her husband (Eph 5:22), as befitting the Lord (Col. 3:18). When Abram yielded to the forces of Pharaoh in fear, he almost lost his wife.11 Yet, when wives submit to their husbands, they win them to the Lord (1 Pet. 3:1). Holy women like Sara are adorned with glory due to their submission (1 Pet. 3:5-6). Avoiding gossip and malice, they are examples to younger wives in their sensibility, purity, and loving service (Titus 2:3-5).
A youth who submits to his elders is blessed (1 Pet. 5:5), as Isaac who received a great blessing for his submission even unto death. This is a sign of strength, not weakness.
A faithful Christian who submits to all the servants of God in the Church, and helps them in any way he can (1 Cor. 16:15-16). As St. Gregory the Theologian says, the one who is unwilling to submit to a spiritual father out of selfishness or pride is a great obstacle to virtue (Oration 2.19).
Submission and Victory
One who submits to God, his enemies submit to him (Deu. 33:29, Psa. 66:3). For this reason, many leaders and mighty men submitted to King Solomon (1 Chr. 29:24). He even has authority over the devil. Because he resists the devil, the devil flees from him (Jam. 4:7), and he receives authority over demons (Lk. 10:17). That is why St. John the Little said that the one who lives in fasting and prayer weakness the enemies of his soul.
Complete submission to God is granting Him authority over my life. Even the details of my life I know is planned and arranged by His holy and divine will. So that I do not boast in arrogance (Jam. 4:13-16). With such submission, God forms in me a new heart and a new spirit (Ez. 11:19-20).
This requires a prayer of complete submission, when the heart is turned away from its own desires and lusts, towards God. This prayer is not lofty, crafty, double-minded, or lukewarm.
In this Christmas season in which the Holy Virgin submitted fully to the grace of God that led to the salvation of the whole world, guide us to submit to His will and purpose for our life and salvation.
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1E. Beck, ed., Des Heiligen Ephraem des Syrers Hymnen de Fide, CSCO Syr 154/73, Scriptores Syri, (Louvain: Durbecq, 1955), v. 48.5.
2St. Cyril of Alexandria, De Adoratione, 9 (PG 68:648A).
3St. Cyril of Alexandria, De Adoratione, 16 (PG 28:1032AB).
4St. Cyril of Alexandria, De Adoratione, 17 (PG 28:1064A).
5St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 23.111.
6St. Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos, 99.7 (PL 37:1275).
7Thomas Torrance, Theology in Reconciliation, 109.
8St. Gregory of Nyssa, Life of Moses, 109.214.
9cf. St. John Chrysostom, Sermon 1.4.
10St. John Climacus, Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 4.9.
11St. Cyril of Alexandria, De Adoratione, 1.