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: 

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 Nehemiah 6-8.

In chapter 8 we meet Ezra again, this time for the great celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles and of the completion of the city wall. As was required for the Feast of Tabernacles (Booths), the entire "Law of Moses" was read aloud, but now it has to be translated for the people, who no longer speak the mother tongue. In the reading of the Covenant, the people rediscover their identity, and they break into tears.

Is there a Bible verse that has, so to speak, told you who you were in God's eyes?

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.