Knowing that there is a God who is good, who knows us, who is near to us-this is truly the gospel, the good news that brings us joy. And the Holy Father is the bearer of good news in these fifty-five reflections on passages from the gospels. A strong advocate of lectio divina, the prayerful reading of Scripture, Pope Benedict has said this practice has the potential to bring about a "new spiritual springtime" in the Church. In this collection, taken from homilies and addresses since becoming pope, the Holy Father shows us by example how much nourishment and inspiration we can derive from meditating on Scripture as he opens our hearts and minds to God's love and its power to renew our world.