Chapter 53: The reception of guests (paragraphs 5-6)

The monastery is a house of God and should always be wisely administered by those who are wise themselves.

(From para. 6 of Ch. 53 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)

In so many ways, I see how Benedict affirms the necessity of good administration in the responsibilities of my life. Yet I also see how he insists that the administration be wise. What is wisdom but knowing that I'm already in relationship with God, in my heart, and then living responsibly out of that knowledge?