PIERCED BY LOVE

Divine Reading

with the

Christian Tradition

HANS BOERSMA

Pierced by Love: Divine Reading with the Christian Tradition

Copyright 2023 Hans Boersma

Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation or are from the Douay-Rheims version. Public domain.

The image on p. 130 of Bonaguida’s Tree of Life is reprinted with permission © akg-images/ Rabatti & Domingie

Print ISBN 9781683596776

Digital ISBN 9781683596783

Library of Congress Control Number 2022942972

Lexham Editorial: Elliot Ritzema, Jeff Reimer, Kelsey Matthews, Danielle Burlaga

Cover Design: Joshua Hunt, Brittany Schrock

Seduxisti me, Domine, et seductus sum

Tu m’as séduit, ô Seigneur, et moi, je me suis laissé séduire

Thou hast seduced me, O Lord, and I have been seduced

Jeremiah 20:7

Contents

Prayer for Lectio Divina

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Figures

Introduction: Divine Reading of Divine Scripture

I Transfiguration

II Acrophobia

III Paying Attention

IV Swirling Thoughts

V Chewing and Belching

VI Trees

VII Bread of Tears

VIII The Better Part

IX Into Great Silence

Conclusion

Eight Theses on Lectio Divina

Sources

Subject Index

Scripture Index

Prayer for Lectio Divina*

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king:

My tongue is the pen of a scrivener

that writeth swiftly.

Ps 45:1

My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee:

thy face, O Lord, will I still seek.

Ps 27:8

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after;

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life.

Ps 27:4

My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God;

when shall I come and appear before the face of God?

My tears have been my bread day and night,

whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God?

Ps 42:2–3

How sweet are thy words to my palate!

more than honey to my mouth.

Ps 119:103

If I have remembered thee upon my bed,

I will meditate on thee in the morning:

Because thou hast been my helper.

And I will rejoice under the covert of thy wings.

Ps 63:6–7

They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

Going they went and wept, casting their seeds.

But coming they shall come with joyfulness,

carrying their sheaves.

Ps 126:5–6

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be;

world without end. Amen.

Blessed Lord,

who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:

Grant that we may in such wise hear them,

read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,

that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word,

we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ....