Chapter Fifteen – The Bible

In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, but as what it really is, the word of God. In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.

--- Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Bible is the most read book in the history of the world. Yet for many Catholics it remains a dust collector on the shelf. Why? For most Catholics, regular reading of the Scriptures is not part of their faith life. It is only during Mass that they encounter the Word of God. But as we have seen in the previous chapter on the Mass, so many of those attending Mass are disconnected from the worship. So is it a surprise that so many would also be disconnected from the Bible?

Matthew’s hope in this chapter is to reintroduce the Bible to Catholics in a manner that invites them to add the habit of regular Scripture reading to their daily walk with God. As he notes, there are many ways to begin a Bible study, and in large part, the best method will probably be the one that fits your learning style. I want to suggest, along with Matthew’s ideas, some thoughts from Father Felix Just on methods that have had great success in bringing lifelong Catholics into a love for reading the Scriptures.

Suggested Methods

Father Felix notes that since the Bible is not like most other books, simply starting at the beginning and trying to read all the way to the end (from Genesis to Revelation) is probably not the best way to proceed for most people. If you attempt this, you might find the books of Genesis and Exodus rather familiar and/or interesting, but you'll probably get confused by Leviticus, may get bored plowing through Numbers, and might quit even before finishing Deuteronomy. Here are a few recommended methods for beginning a study of the Scriptures.

Christo-centric - Matthew suggests a wonderful way to begin Scripture study – focus on Jesus – that means starting with the Gospels. Many of the passages in the Gospels will seem familiar from what you have heard at Mass. But reading them within the entire Gospel narrative will bring you into a new view of Jesus. You will know him differently, in a more intimate way. With this new understanding of Jesus, as seen through his Word, you will find your life transformed.  

  

Matthew says once you have familiarized yourself with the Gospels (starting with Mark first), he then suggest you turn to the fourteen narrative books he outlines in this chapter. These will help you to see God’s relationship with humanity. Below are some links to excellent commentary resources you might find helpful in your study: St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Catholic Scripture Study International

Thematic/Theological – This involves reading portions of the Bible that are related to some theological, ethical, spiritual, liturgical, or other theme. For example, reading texts related to Jesus’ resurrection, or to an issue of social justice, or to Mary, etc. Here is a link to begin this study: Threshold Bible Study.

Liturgical/Lectionary - Many people find it good to read the short biblical selections that are used at daily and/or Sunday Mass, as found in the Lectionary for Mass, and then diving deeper into the Scriptures based on these passages. Readings for daily and Sunday Masses are available on the US Catholic Bishops’ website. There are also many excellent devotional journals that follow the liturgical readings and offer wonderful insights into God’s Word. Here is a list of a few of them: Magnificat, Give Us This Day, The Word Among Us, Living Faith. I will also offer a plug for the Daily Virtue which is a online resource that captures the best insights and stories from the devotional journals listed above, to provide a quick and easy way to daily center your life on God’s Word.

The Bible is the most influential book in history. Whether you are beginning your first quest to read the Scriptures or your next quest, Matthew encourages you to pay attention to the stories, questions, and prayers. The stories that fill the Bible are the stories of men and women and their struggles to walk with God, to make the journey of the soul, to surrender and allow God to save them.

Matthew tells us that questions are an integral part of the spiritual journey. The temptation is to despise questions because of the uncertainty they represent. But uncertainty is a spiritual gift designed to help us grow. Woven into the ageless stories and the great questions the Bible raises we will also find some of the most beautiful prayers ever written. The Bible is the richest treasury of prayers. Some of the prayers are obvious, like the Psalms, but others are treasures hidden among the stories, waiting to be discovered.

The Word of God deserves to be approached with reverence and awe. If you have not yet had a life-changing experience with the Bible, Matthew is excited for the opportunity this has to change your life.    

Question

When you think about the Bible, what thoughts, images, or stories come to mind? What method are you going to choose or do you presently use in your Bible study? Are you ready to be transformed?

In peace,
Dan