I must remember that I am listening to the Word, to Christ. When I think about the voice of Christ I try to recall its various manifestations in his earthly life. I hear it sometimes encouraging and cajoling, at other times challenging and demanding. And then, since my reflections and prayers must inevitably be drawn to the paschal mystery, I think of the voice from the cross where, even at a time of almost unimaginable pain, Christ is calling for forgiveness, making excuses for those who do not realize what they are doing, speaking in what Saint Aelred of Rievaulx calls ‘that wondrous voice, full of gentleness and love’.
ESTHER DE WAAL Seeking Life: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule of St. Benedict
