Obedience, virtue for beginners or for all?

Obedience has several times been likened to crutches, useful enough for those beginning their walk of faith, but an encumberment for those further along.

Saint Benedict, in his Rule which is the foundation of most Rules of religious life (directly or indirectly), has this to say on obedience: "The first degree of humility is obedience without delay. This is the virtue of those who hold nothing dearer to them than Christ; who, because of the holy service they have professed, and the fear of hell, and the glory of life everlasting, as soon as anything has been ordained by the Superior, receive it as a divine command and cannot suffer any delay in executing it. Of these the Lord says, "As soon as he heard, he obeyed Me." And again to teachers He says, "He who hears you hears Me.""

This is not a guide for those beginning their journey, but for those who foreswore all else to serve God and His people, for those who (like Mary, sister of Martha) have chosen the better part. It is likewise taught that there are great graces in obedience. St Faustina calls it the highest of the Evangelical Counsels (Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience).

How then do we come to regard it as training wheels we can be done with, when it is considered by the saints to be one of the greatest sacrifices we can make?

another child of the Child,
Chris