×

Who are you?

EDITOR:

The Monk who answers the door at a Monastery is known as the Porter. A very important position in the Monastery, as he is the representative of this prayerful community to the outside world.

Most people when asked, “who are you” will likely answer with your name, perhaps what you do for a living, whether you are married and have a family, etc. However, this past Sunday Pastor Tim asked us, “who are you” and he didn’t want to know our name, occupation, what we’ve done or accomplished…rather he wanted to know who we really are. Of course, he was referring to our spiritual status, you know, how will we be accounted before God. He delivered one of the greatest homilies I’ve heard. This is the shortened/paraphrased version.

He told us a true story:

We all have a common denominator. Your position doesn’t matter, whether wealthy or poverty stricken, whether you have served in a position of power and influence or simply strolled through your entire life as the average Joe. Nobody is getting out of here alive, as “Father Time” is undefeated. Thus, we are all the same, we all have a common denominator. We are all exactly like Ottto Von Habsburg, a Crown Prince, known to be the last Emperor of Hungary. Yes, you and I are exactly like him despite his royal blood line, despite being one of the most influential voices in attempting to drive communism from Europe.

When a member of this royal lineage dies his body is buried in one place, his heart removed from the body and the heart is buried elsewhere. In this case the heart was to be take to the Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary.

This is the exchange between the Porter at the door of the Abbey and the person taking the heart to be buried there. The door is a massive medieval door with a small peep hole door within the structure. The exchange is called the “knocking ceremony.” Three knocks on the door are met with, “who desires entry?” “Otto of Austria, crown prince of Austria-Hungary, Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia…and ten more titles are named on behalf of Otto. The Porter states in a loud, clear voice, “We don’t know him” and slams the peep hole door shut.

Three more knocks and the peep hole door opens for a second time. “who desires entry?” Otto Von Habsburg, President and Honorary President of the Paneuropean Union, President of the European Parliament, honorary doctor of many universities. Multiple honors and awards are listed on his behalf. All because of his struggles to secure freedom and justice for all people. The Porter replies to this second list of accolades, “We don’t know him” and slams the peep hole door shut a second time.

Three more knocks and the peep hole door opens for the third time. “Who desires entry?” “Otto, a mortal and sinful man seeking the grace and mercy of God.” The Porter replies, “then bring him in!”

Mike Cousineau

Escanaba

Starting at $3.50/week.

Subscribe Today