Read the Bible with Me!

Welcome to the Pauline Family's "Year of the Bible"! I'm reading the Bible clear through this year, and I invite you to read along with me. But first, let us pray: 

I praise you, my God, with all people.
May they thank and adore you!
You have written your greatness in creation,
your Law in consciences,
your eternal promises in the Bible.
You are eternally faithful and always lovable!
As I read Sacred Scripture today, open my mind to hear your voice and understand your loving message.
Amen.

Today's three chapters are Genesis 22-24, along with Psalms 3 and 4 (Sunday's extra).

It's not unusual in historic churches to find a standard set of images in or near the altar, often in stained glass high in the apse. The center is the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the very mystery being offered in sacramental form on the altar. Typically on either side there is the sacrifice of Melchizedek, the priest-king who offered bread and wine, and the sacrifice of Abraham, his hand held back by an Angel from heaven. Abraham and Melchizedek are mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I (along with Abel): In the Mass we are aligned with these three ancient priestly figures as we make our own offerings in union with Jesus, the true High Priest.

The story of the obedience of Abraham is part of the Easter Vigil service on the night of Holy Saturday.

On the feast of Corpus Christi, we sing of Isaac tied to the wood of the altar as a type (a prophetic foreshadowing) of Christ, bound to the wood of the Cross. But while God sent a ram for Abraham to offer in place of his "only beloved son," we know that God's own Beloved Son was himself "the Lamb slain since the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8). 

Start reading here.

Psalm 3 begins here.

If you are looking for a solid but approachable companion to the Bible, I can wholeheartedly recommend A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: The Old Testament by Brant Pitre and John Bergsma. Although the authors are top-level Scripture scholars, they write for "real" readers. Notes include recent findings from archaeology and ancient manuscripts.