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 all the universe you have made,
and to render judgment in integrity of heart:
Give me Wisdom, the attendant at your throne, 
nd 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 Job 1-3.

Today we begin a new section of the Bible, the Wisdom books. In some ways, these are the most approachable books of the Bible, the most humanistic books. It is easy to appreciate the frank look at life and the old proverbs, and at least one of these books inspired lyrics that made it to the very top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart. 

We start with one of the most sophisticated and perplexing books in the Old Testament. One of the challenges of the Book of Job is that it looks like a story. It even begins with "Once upon a time..." (well, close enough). The Book of Job is a philosophical reflection in poetry form (a typical ancient philosophical vehicle) that uses a story to launch its theme.  

As for Job himself, he is not even Jewish: He is a Gentile (some say he is a kind of Adam figure). But the narrative doesn't last very long: It only comes in at the beginning and at the end. We will need to read these next 42 chapters like poetry or like a painting (this is where the story line can help): looking for the striking images, the big picture, the emotions as the Book of Job tackles the ultimate puzzle, the mystery of the suffering of the innocent. It is a puzzle that is not solved by the end of the story, but the place of the book, at almost the very center of the Bible, is significant for us who believe in the Innocent One who suffered and then conquered all evil, including death, by undergoing it on our behalf. 

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.