What are your plans for this year?
Yesterday, we discussed the dream list – specifically, how to go about making one. The dream list is a tool to inspire us to grow into our goals. The tool includes holding ourselves accountable by telling others our plans. Here’s part of my plan for this year: getting to know Jesus better.
I haven’t read through the Bible yet myself. Bits and pieces, here and there – sometimes a chapter, sometimes a book – but not the whole thing start-to-finish. I’ve often relied on the Liturgy of the Word for filling out my spiritual nourishment. I’m much more haphazard in my reading of scripture than I’ve ever been with a novel or a text book.
This bothers me. The Bible is literally the greatest epic of all time, the adventure we’re called to live out, packed with quests and inspiration and encouragement. The Bible is the great love letter detailing how God pursues us through every difficulty. I love reading! I love questing and inspiration! And who couldn’t use encouragement? So why, then, have I not read through the Bible?
- Because it’s daunting.
- Because it’s long.
- Because I don’t have the best version.
- Because I’m scared I won’t finish.
- Because I’m scared I won’t understand everything.
- Because I’m scared of what people will think of me.
- Because how?
So, yes, to all these things. I get it. However…
- Daunting: Yes, but so is anything worthwhile in life. Some days, getting out of bed is daunting. We’re called to have courage; let’s grow in courage this year.
- Long: We’re called to persevere. (Also, some of the books are remarkably short, and chapters make it more digestible.)
- The best version: I plan on using online versions, specifically Bible Gateway’s RSVCE as my go-to and the Vulgate (Latin and Douay-Rheims) when I’m feeling fancy (pinky-out, fan-ceh!) and/or want to see the line-for-line literal translation. Both are free resources.
- Finish: Maybe. But I promise you, if we don’t start, we won’t finish, either.
- Understand: The Bible contains mysteries, probably in part to keep us coming back to figure them out. Let’s try. If we don’t try, we can’t succeed.
- People: The people who want you to walk with them in Christ will lift you up in your endeavor to know Him. The people who don’t want you to walk with Christ will find any reason to lure you away. Walk with me; let us know Him better together.
- How: Luckily for us, Deacon Karl of Manchester, NH mapped out a reading plan. We don’t even have to figure out the how, just decide the timeslot we’re going to sit down to do it.
Will you join me on this journey? I’m both nervous (see all of the above reasons) and enthusiastic about embarking on this adventure. We’re going to get the whole story… well, at least as far as it’s shaken out thus far; we’re still building the next chapter.
You and me – we’re building the next chapter for Christ’s next installment of the Good Book. Let’s prepare by getting to know Christ and His story thus far. Let’s respond to the calling of Jesus to walk side by side with him.
To be a Christian is to be grafted on to Christ.
– Homily, Mass on 03 January 2020
Here’s the plan for January’s First Week*
- 1st (W) : Genesis 1-4
- 2nd (R) : Genesis 5-8
- 3rd (F) : Genesis 9-11
- 4th (S) : Genesis 12-14
- 5th (Sunday) : Genesis 15-17
- 6th (M) : Genesis 18-21
- 7th (T) : Genesis 22-24
If you’re in the Manchester, NH area on the third Tuesday of the month, join us for the discussion in the Cathedral’s Rectory Conference Room 7-8 pm. It’d be great to see you there. Otherwise, join us here! I want to hear the wisdom you gain from reading the Bible. Two eyes are better than one; we’ll learn more as a team. Let’s do this together!
Summary
We’re going on a Bible study! There are a plethora of excuses to not, but so many more reasons to. We’re starting at the beginning and going right through the end. Action! Adventure! Romance! Seeing that the greatest heroes in history are just like us! Reading how the greatest heroes in history managed to answer God’s call despite their weaknesses! Inspiration for us to do the same! Are you ready?
Have you done this before, read through the whole Bible? Do you have any tips? Do you have a favorite book or chapter or verse that you turn to when you need the spark? What hidden gems await us?
Edit (06 January 2020):
The original post improperly reported the readings as for the weeks in January. Each segment was actually by day; I realized this upon seeing the new bulletin. I’ve updated this and added the readings for through tomorrow. If you’re behind, don’t worry! We can run the slow circuit together! If you’re ahead of me, that’s great, too, because it means you’ll have longer to ruminate and can provide us with your insight!