For Christians, the Bible is a special book because it tells us the great story of God and his love for us. The pinnacle of God’s love for us is Jesus, God come into the world to save us. This means that the most special part of the Bible is the beginning of the New Testament: the Gospels, the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, because that is the the part of the Bible that tells us what Jesus did and said, and shows us what he is like.
Love is the purpose of life. Jesus shows us what love is, how love works. This is why it is so important to get to know him better. Because the Gospels tell us what he is like, we need to read them and listen to them, over and over. Reading the Bible is important: reading the Gospels is most important. Indeed, in liturgy, the most important reading from the Bible, read by clergy and listened to standing, is the reading from the Gospels. In the east, before the Gospels are read aloud at liturgy, the reader cries out, “Wisdom!” What is this wisdom? It is the wisdom of knowing Jesus better.
So what to do? Read or listen to something from the book of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John every day. It does not have to be long: a few verses will do. Don’t make judgments about it, let it be what it is. Reflect on it, especially on Jesus as he is revealed in it. What does he say? What does he do? If you do this, after a while you will come to understand Jesus better, you will start to know what he is like, and that will inform your prayer and help you build a better relationship with him. He will remind you that you are loved, and will teach you how to love.
