"To take the holy scriptures and read them is the first thing
we have to do to open ourselves to God's call.
Reading the scriptures is not as easy as it seems ...
We tend to make anything and everything
we read
subject to analysis and discussion.
But the word of God should lead us first of all to contemplation
and meditation.
Instead of taking the words apart,
we should bring them together
in our innermost being;
instead of wondering if we agree or disagree,
we should wonder which words are spoken directly to us
and connect directly with
our personal story.
Instead of thinking
about the words
as potential subjects for an interesting dialogue ...
we should be willing to let them penetrate
into the most hidden corners of our hearts,
even to those places where
no other word has found entrance."
(Henri Nowen)