All squares are rectangles, but not all rectanges are squares. In the same way, submission is obedience, but not all obedience is submission. In obeying, one merely complies. It does not necessarily indicate a desire of the will to surrender to the will or authority of ones superior. Indeed, one can outwardly obey while also grumbling.
To use a further example, attrition is sufficient for the Sacrament of Confession to be valid, although perfect contrition is the most excellent form and is to be striven after. When the children I work with hurt one another, I hear them say "sorry" with a half ingenious attitude, as if they are being forced to say a merely customary response rather than actually experiencing sorrow for their deeds. Lately, I have been taking steps to correct this. I ask the children to say, "I apologize" rather than "I'm sorry" because if they're not truly sorry, then such an utterance is a lie. An apology is not the same thing as truly being sorry, nevertheless, it is sufficient.
Likewise, obedience itself is sufficient, but imperfect.. Submission is of the heart, an inward attitude that reflects a lowering of one's self. It is the desire to place one's own will under (or, in accord with), the will of one's rightful authority, and the outward manifestation thereof.
To read my words, one would think I have it all together. I assure you, I am not perfect. Definitely not so. Nevertheless, the fact that I am aware of all I have said concerning obedience and submission makes me all the more responsible to God for actually doing so... I cannot claim ignorance, and thus face full culpability. To whom much is given, that much more is required. That is a scary thought.
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