Prayerful preparation.

  Just as important as knowing why we should read the Bible is knowing how we should read

the Bible.

  The best guides for this are the holy Fathers, headed by St. John Chrysostom who, in a man-

ner of speaking, has written a fifth Gospel.

  The holy Fathers recommend serious preparation before reading and studying the Bible; but

of what does this preparation consist?

  First of all in prayer. Pray to the Lord to illumine your mind . so that you may understand

the words of the Bible . and to fill your heart with His grace . so that you may feel the truth

and life of those words.

  Be aware that these are God.s words, which He is speaking and saying to you personally.

Prayer, together with the other virtues found in the Gospel, is the best preparation a person can

have for understanding the Bible.