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 28-30 and (because it is Sunday) Psalms 101 and 102.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us, "Forgive and you will be forgiven" (Luke 6:37). Sirach isn't as pithy, but he makes the same point in today's reading.

Psalm 101 is the pledge of a faithful ruler, promising not only to personally live an upright life ("act with integrity of heart"), but "rid the city of the LORD of all evildoers." We can apply this to ourselves pretty directly, not by throwing people out of our house or town but by committing ourselves to overcoming the thoughts, bad habits, and self-indulgence that befoul the dwelling-place of God that is our own soul. 

Psalm 102 is a penitential psalm, giving voice to sheer misery before God but ending with an affirmation of God's faithfulness.

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.