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 Leviticus 8-10.

I have been finding the Bergsma/Pitre Introduction to the Bible (pictured below) so helpful! They pointed out that Paul's comment about "the Law" was that it was "added because of transgressions" (I never noticed that before!)e; that is, what we are reading right now is not the original content of the Covenant. Indeed, Exodus and Leviticus narrate a series of ten rebellions, and it seems that after each one, God "addd" new laws, new sacrifices... I am learning so much as we go along!

Here is a sample of what the two scholars say about the book we are reading right now: 

We have already seen that the first covenant made at Sinai had very little law attached to it: only the Ten Commandments and three chapters of civil application of them (Ex 20-23). The great bulk of the law, consisting of the book of Leviticus, is added after the transgression of the Golden Calf. This suggests that the Levitical law is a response to Israel's sin and, therefore, in some sense, penitential. ... suggesting that the Tabernacle and its liturgy (that is, the book of Leviticus) is the means of rehabilitation of Israel that, if put into practice, will neutralize Israel's tendency to rebellion.

A Catholic Introduction to the Bible, Old Testament, page 224

Start reading today's chapters of Leviticus 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.