Turning up the flame. . . If we ask ourselves how Francis did it, he left us several options: he would engage God in the creation around him; he would engage God in the persons he met; he would engage God in the quiet moments of contemplation, and daily he would engage God in the Scriptures. We are called to do no less. Down through the ages, our Franciscan spiritual sources have placed these options of Francis before us in different ways. St. Bonaventure, in The Soul’s Journey into God, sets forth for us three ways that we can come to know God in the tradition of Francis. We can come to know God from those things outside ourselves, creation for example. We can come to know God from those things that are above ourselves, those attributes that pertain to God alone, omnipresence, omnipotence, Trinity, to name a few. We are also graced, as no other creatures, to know God within ourselves. We can come to know God by the use of our intellect, memory and will, our natural senses. We can also come to know him through our spiritual senses. In chapter 4, St. Bonaventure writes: Therefore, the soul believes in, hopes in, and loves Jesus Christ, who is the Word Incarnate, uncreated, and inspired, that is the way, the truth and the life. When by faith it believes in Christ as the uncreated Word and the splendor of the Father, it recovers its spiritual hearing and vision; its hearing in order to receive the teachings of Christ; and its vision to look upon the splendor of His light. Itinerarium, 4.3

The Journey, our spiritual journey, calls us to a deeper understanding of Scripture. How are we to make the Scripture come alive for us today? How are we to enter into the Scripture and “hear” what it has to say to each of us individually? Our Holy Father has suggested Lectio Divina for all the faithful: They are to be encouraged to engage in lectio divina, that quiet and prayerful meditation on the Scripture that allows the word of God to speak to the human heart. This form of prayer, privately or in groups, will deepen their love for the Bible and make it an essential and life-giving element of their daily lives.1 Exactly what is Lectio Divina, ( Sacred Reading), and how is it practiced? Easily stated, it is practicing the 4Rs: 1) Read (Lectio): Read the Scripture passage through thoroughly. 2) Reflect (Meditatio): What is God saying to you through a word, a phrase, a thought or this entire Scripture passage? What deeper truth is being revealed to you? 3) Respond (Oratio): How do you respond to the stirrings in your heart, your conscience? How does this passage challenge you to look upon the world? How does it affect your interactions with others? How does it change how you see yourself? God spoke to you; what is your response to God? 4) Receive (Contemplatio): Sit in the silence; sit in the Presence of God; receive what it is that God is giving you. Use several of these passages to begin your prac- tice, as they lend themselves to Lectio: Matt. 16:13-17; Mark 10:46-52; John 4:4-26; Luke 10:38-42; John 8:2-11; Matt. 14:22-33;Luke 24:13-35 This is a very gentle way to put into practice the wisdom St. Bonaventure sets before us. Enter into the Scriptures and allow the Jesus of history to turn up the flame in your life. 1 Apostolic Exhortations Ecclesia in Oceania, 22 November 2001 Taken from the Summer issue of  the TAU, the publication of the National Fraternity SFO, USA.