Chapter 66: The porter or portress of the monastery
At the entrance to the monastery there should be a wise senior who is too mature in stability to think of wandering about and who can deal with enquiries and give whatever help is required.
(From para. 1 of Ch. 66 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trams. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)
Who stands at the door of my heart? I think I can answer that question by observing my relationships with others.
"To take a message" and "deliver a reply" are two tasks of the porter. The message is the Divine Word deep in the heart's silence. The message cannot stay there it needs a reply. The reply is delivered,given birth to, in my life. That is what the Christian life is all about, giving voice to, in word and action, Christ's particular and personal message.
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