Lord, inspire me to read your Scriptures
and to meditate upon them day and night.
I beg you to give me real understanding of what I read,
that I in turn may put its precepts into practice.
Yet, I know that understanding and good intentions are worthless,
unless rooted in your graceful love.
So I ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page.
but channels of grace into my heart. Amen.
(Origen, AD c.184-c.254)