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 46-48.

In Sirach's praise of the ancestors, King David is highlighted as a man of prayer and as a liturgist. His great sins are alluded to, but as forgiven rather than as committed! 

The treatment of the prophet Elijah is striking indeed. Sirach is quoting the prophet Malachi when he mentions that Elijah is destined "in time to come...to turn back the hearts of parents toward their children" (see Mal 3:24). When the Archangel Gabriel announces to to the childless priest Zechariah that his wife Elizabeth will have a son (John the Baptist), he also quotes this same prophecy and specifies that the boy will go before the Lord "in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). Jesus later says that John "is" Elijah (see Mt 11:14).

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.