15. What Benefit the Reading of God’s Word Brings Us

We all know that we ought to read God’s word and study it, as the Lord himself says: Search the Scriptures, for you think that through them you have eternal life (John 5:39). But here is the question: is there any benefit for us in reading God’s word? Does it confer any blessings upon us? Does it produce any wholesome effect? What can be said in response? The Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, as though answering these very questions, says the following: “I, poor Seraphim, go through the Gospels every day. On Monday I read Matthew from beginning to end, on Tuesday—Mark, on Wednesday—Luke, on Thursday—John; and on the remaining days I divide the Acts and the Epistles of the Apostles, and I do not pass a single day without reading the Gospel and the Apostle appointed for the day and for the saint. Through this, not only my soul, but my very body is delighted and quickened, because I am conversing with the Lord, holding in my memory his life and sufferings, and day and night I praise, laud, and give thanks to my Redeemer for all his mercies poured out upon the human race and upon me, unworthy as I am” (Life of Father Seraphim, Sarov Hermitage edition, pp. 70–71).

In another place the Venerable One continues: “From reading God’s word there comes enlightenment of the mind, which is thereby transformed with a divine transformation… It is very profitable to occupy oneself with reading God’s word and to read the entire Bible attentively. For this exercise alone, apart from other good deeds, the Lord will not leave a person without his mercy and will fill him with the gift of understanding. And when a person has supplied his soul with God’s word, he will then be filled with understanding of what is good and what is evil.”

“The reading of God’s word produces warmth, which brings forth tears; through them a person is warmed through and through and is filled with spiritual gifts that delight the mind and heart beyond any words” (Account of the Life of Father Seraphim by Schema-monk Mark, edition of 1856, p. 76). Thus, there is benefit in reading God’s word—and great benefit indeed. As we have just heard, it delights and quickens not only the soul but the very body; it stirs feelings of praise, adoration, and thanksgiving toward the Lord; it enlightens the mind; it draws down God’s mercies upon a person; and it produces tears of grace. In view of this, it is clear that we must diligently read God’s word and study it. And let us read and study. Let us read it with reverence and with prayer to God for the gift of understanding; let us read with a sincere desire to receive from God’s word instruction in the faith and an impulse toward a pious and virtuous life; and finally, let us read with humility and a constant desire to know God’s will and to be taught in piety and virtue. O Lord, if your law had not been my meditation, I should have perished in my humiliation… My eyes fail watching for your word…, it has comforted me in my humiliation… Your word has given me life… I rejoice at your words as one who finds great treasure (Ps 118:50,82,92,162). Amen.