Holy Scripture requires holy readingJesus is the point of reading the Bible. Christians read Scripture to encounter Christ and be conformed to his image. Scripture is no mere human text; it is God’s living word. So how should we read it?

For Christians throughout the centuries, the answer has been lectio divina—“divine reading.” In Pierced by Love: Divine Reading with the Christian Tradition, Hans Boersma invites Christians to retrieve this ancient and meditative way of reading the Bible. Lectio divina is a sacramental reading. It aims to take us more deeply into the life of God. Through practicing the four movements of lectio divina—attentive reading, extended meditation, prayerful reflection, and silent resting—we have a structured and simple way to focus on Christ, listen to the Spirit, and rest in God’s love. We no longer simply read the words of Scripture; instead, we read the face of God in the eternal Word.

Drawing insights from our forefathers, such as Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, and Bernard of Clairvaux, Pierced by Love encourages Christians to join the church’s rich heritage of transformative reading.