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: 

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 Sirach 7-9 and (because it is Sunday) Psalms 99 and 100.

More advice from Sirach on how to live in in peace with God and neighbor. (These chapters seem to have particular application in the modern world of social media.)

Psalm 99 is focused on the holiness of God: in fact, this constitutes the refrain of the short three part Psalm!

Psalm 100 is often used as an Invitatory (first Psalm of the day), since it invites the people, "Come!" "Come before the Lord, singing for joy!" It speaks of the people as "the sheep of his flock," processing into his courts with praise of God's eternal, faithful love. What a beautiful prayer for a Sunday!

Start reading Sirach here and the Psalms 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.