Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31
“The outcome or the fruit of reading holy Scripture is by no means negligible: it is the fullness of eternal happiness. For these are the books which tell us of eternal life, which were written not only that we might believe but also that we might have everlasting life. When we do live that life we shall understand fully, we shall love completely, and our desires will be totally satisfied.”
Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1217-1274)in Breviloquium as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 200.
Whether you find yourself in calm or challenging circumstances, I want to encourage you to increase the time you spend studying the Word of God.
No time for this? Get up earlier. Jettison unhelpful or less productive activities from your schedule and spend time soaking in the holy Scriptures.
Read one of the Gospels. Try Mark in one sitting. Or read Matthew, Luke, or John over a week or two. As your understanding grows so will your faith and your generosity.
If we asked Bonaventure about the impact it would have on your life, here’s what He might say: your love will increase and your desires will be satisfied.
Bonaventure followed Jesus with the famous Francis of Assisi. These guys built an order on a few words of Jesus. The impact of their living, giving, and loving shaped the world.
Bonaventure also studied theology with Thomas Aquinas. In so doing, his faith grew as the knowledge of his faith expanded. Your love will also increase as you spend more time in study.
Grow in generosity today by tapping the only source that satisfies. The impact on your life will be “by no means negligible” as you taste the fountain of eternal happiness.
I am finding that the harder the circumstances are in life, the more time I need to spend in prayer and in the reading of God’s Word to navigate them.