Read the Bible with Me!

Today is the Anniversary of Foundation of the Daughters of St Paul (1915)! Happy Birthday to us!

I'm reading the Bible clear through this year, and I invite you to read along with me. But first, let us pray: 

God of my fathers, Lord of mercy,
who have made all things by your word
and in your wisdom have created people 
to rule this world that you have made,
and to render judgment in integrity of heart:
Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, 
and reject me not from among your children;
for I am your servant, the child of your handmaid, 
a weak human being,  
and lacking in comprehension of your Word and your will.

Send your Wisdom from the holy heavens,
from your glorious throne,
to be with me, to guide me,
to enlighten me, to lead me to you.
(Based on Wis 9)

Today's chapters are Wisdom 11-13.

There are some stunning passages in today's chapters. Perhaps 11:24, 26, on the immense, tender mercy of the incomprehensibly great God, could be part of your prayer today:

For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for you would not fashion what you hate. ...
But you spare all things because they are yours,
O Ruler and Lover of souls. 

Chapter 13 is also striking for its gently ironic tone over the folly of believing in false gods. (There will be more of that in Chapter 14 tomorrow; it's actually kind of sweet.)

Start reading 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 John Bergsma and Brant Pitre. Although the authors are top-level Scripture scholars, they write for "real" readers. Notes include recent findings from archaeology and ancient manuscripts, and how each book of the Bible has been understood by the Church Fathers and used in Liturgy.