Contemplation of God—seeing God—is the ultimate purpose of our biblical reading. This talk discusses the Mary-Martha relationship through the lens of a number of medieval authors. They all point to the same conclusion: Mary has chosen the better part. When we contemplate or see God, we reach the end or purpose both of biblical exegesis and of our human existence.
Hans Boersma holds the St. Benedict Servants of Christ Chair in Ascetical Theology at Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin. His most recent book deals with the traditional practice of lectio divina and is entitled Pierced by Love: Divine Reading with the Christian Tradition (Lexham Press, 2023). He has also written Five Things Theologians Wish Biblical Scholars Knew (IVP Academic, 2021); Seeing God (Eerdmans, 2018); and Heavenly Participation (Eerdmans, 2011). His main theological interest is the retrieval of the sacramental ontology of the Great Tradition of the church.
