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:
My God, I adore and thank your loving and wise Providence, manifested on every page of Sacred Scripture. You have always been close to sinful and erring humanity, and have indicated the way and given hope. Amid the shadows of error and corruption, you kindled the light of your truth; amid universal corruption, you are the Just One; amid so much idolatry, humanity in every corner of the earth has cultivated a sincere worship of you.
Let my reading today increase my trust in your goodness, your mercy, and your unfailing faithfulness.
Today's chapters are Judith 1-3.
Today we start another story that is part of the Catholic Bible and of Jewish tradition (but not of the Jewish scriptures). It is also another book that is written in the style of history but is more likely historical fiction or, according to Drs. Bergsma and Pitre (Catholic Introduction to the Bible) cryptic history: an account in which ancient names and places have been substituted for more politically dangerous (and relevant) facts. The book is thought to date to about the time of the Maccabean revolt, which would make the "cryptic history" theory signficant.
The first half of the book sets the stage; we will not even meet Judith (whose name simply means "Jewish woman") until the midpoint! When we do meet her, you will begin to understand why she is considered a "type" (prophetic foreshadowing) of Mary.
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