In a time when authority is often questioned and personal freedom is fiercely defended, Rev. Fr Patrick Ajayi’s reflection for Thursday of the Second Week of Eastertide delivers a message that cuts through modern noise with apostolic clarity: obedience to God must come before every other allegiance.

Rooted in the Scriptures (Acts 5:27–33; John 3:31–36), his reflection is not merely a teaching—it is a call to rediscover the essence of Christian faith as lived by the Apostles.

The Apostolic Courage: Obedience Above Human Authority

Akahi News gathered that the priest draws attention to the bold declaration of the Apostles: “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.”

This was not a convenient statement. It was made in the face of opposition, persecution, and the threat of death.

Their conviction, however, was anchored in one unshakable truth—the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For them, the risen Christ was not an idea to be debated but a reality to be obeyed.

They proclaimed that:

• God raised Jesus from the dead
• He is now both Leader and Saviour
• His authority surpasses every earthly power

And so, their obedience was not blind—it was born out of encounter.

This raises a critical question for today’s believer:

Do we obey God because we truly believe—or do we believe only when it is convenient to obey?

Faith and Obedience: Two Sides of One Reality

Fr Ajayi offers a profound theological insight—faith and obedience are inseparable.

To believe, he explains, is not merely to accept a truth intellectually. It is to say “yes” to God completely and to move in the direction that truth demands.

Akahi News learnt that this understanding challenges the superficial expression of Christianity that often reduces faith to words, rituals, or occasional devotion.

True faith is movement.
True faith is surrender.
True faith is obedience in action.

But here lies a deeper philosophical reflection:

Can one truly claim to have faith without a willingness to be led—even into discomfort?
Is faith still faith if it does not cost us something?

Jesus: The Voice from Heaven

Drawing from the Gospel of John, the reflection emphasises the divine origin and authority of Jesus Christ:

• He comes from heaven
• He speaks the very words of God
• He is filled with the Spirit without limit
• The Father has entrusted everything to Him

This establishes a foundation that cannot be shaken—Jesus is not just a teacher among many; He is the ultimate revelation of God.

Akahi News gathered that Fr Ajayi stresses that belief in Christ is not optional within Christianity—it is the gateway to life itself.

And yet, the Gospel presents a stark contrast:

• Those who believe in the Son have eternal life
• Those who refuse Him remain outside that life

This is not merely a theological statement—it is a defining line of destiny.

Which leads to a sobering question:

If eternal life depends on belief in Christ, why do so many treat that belief as secondary?

The Resurrection Demands a Response

At the heart of the reflection is a powerful conclusion:
The Resurrection is not just an event to celebrate—it is a call to respond.

For the Apostles, it demanded courage.
For today’s Christian, it demands obedience.

Fr Ajayi describes this as the “obedience of faith”—a readiness to listen and to follow Christ in every direction He leads.

This kind of obedience is not selective.
It is total.

Akahi News learnt that this is the path to a life that “death cannot touch”—a life rooted not in temporary gains, but in eternal truth.

But one final question lingers:

If Christ truly leads, are we truly following—or simply choosing our own path in His name?

A Spiritual Call Beyond Routine

The reflection closes with a powerful invocation:
“Receive the Spirit of obedience of faith in Jesus’ name.”

It is both a prayer and a challenge.

Because in the end, Christianity is not about partial commitment.

It is about a radical, daily decision to follow Christ—wherever He leads.

And perhaps the message of this reflection can be summed up in one unsettling truth:

You cannot separate belief from obedience—and still call it faith.

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Akahi News www.akahinews.org