Pierced by Love

Divine Reading with the Christian Tradition

Hans Boersma

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Year: 2023
• eBook ISBN:
  9781683596783
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

2023 Credo Magazine Book Award Winner, Theological Retrieval

Holy Scripture requires holy reading.

- Encounter an ancient but fresh way of reading the Bible.
- Learn from Augustine, Anselm of Canterbury, Bernard of Clairvaux, and others.
- Experience a structured and attentive way to focus on Christ, listen to the Spirit, and rest in God's love.

Christians read Scripture to encounter Christ and be conformed to his image. Jesus is the point of reading the Bible. But 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." 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 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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Prayer for Lectio Divina
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Figures
• Introduction: Divine Reading of Divine Scripture
• Chapter I: Transfiguration
• Chapter II: Acrophobia
• Chapter III: Paying Attention
• Chapter IV: Swirling Thoughts
• Chapter V: Chewing and Belching
• Chapter VI: Trees
• Chapter VII: Bread of Tears
• Chapter VIII: The Better Part
• Chapter IX: Into Great Silence
• Conclusion
• Eight Theses on Lectio Divina
• Sources
• Subject Index
• Scripture Index
• Old Testament