How to Read the Bible – A Three Step Plan (written for Catholics

How do you read the Bible? Today is the feast day of Saint Jerome, who once quipped, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” – Saint Jerome

It’s a running joke that if you want to find a Bible verse, you ought to ask a Protestant and not a Catholic. Protestants read the Bible. Catholics not so much.

This raises the question:

Why Don’t More Catholics Read the Bible?

I think the answer lies in the fact that we Catholics go to Mass. The Holy Mass has at least two Bible readings every time. If you pray the Breviary or Liturgy of Hours, multiply that several times.

Joe Catholic says to himself, “Why should I study the Bible? I go to Mass. I hear it there. Check and check.”

There is something beautiful in this. For Catholics, Bible reading is liturgical. Hence, Bible reading remains chiefly a community experience.

Three Step Plan to Kick It Up a Notch

It’s good to listen to the readings from the Bible at Holy Mass. However, we also need a personal (even private) encounter with God in the pages of Sacred Scripture. All of the saints breathed Sacred Scripture. Scripture served as the grammar for their souls. They couldn’t communicate without it.

Here are some basic spiritual needs that you have every single day of your life:

Praise – Voicing your delight in God and His provision for your life. Gratitude destroys discouragement.
Wisdom – You need practical advice to navigate the complexities of life.
Challenge – You need to be lifted higher. You need to grow in your faith. You need to be inspired. You must be an intentional Christian.

So when you wake up tomorrow, do the following:

Read a Psalm. Start with Psalm 1. Make it your anthem of praise for that day.
Read at least one Proverb. Proverbs are the wisdom morsels of your day. There are 31 chapters. Why not read one chapter every day during the month. Oct 1 is Provers 1. October 31 is Proverbs 31. You get the idea.
Read a chapter of the one of the Gospels. This is your challenge. Your Savior challenges you in the four Gospels. He calls you to be not merely a nominal Catholic but a disciple. You cannot seriously read the Gospels and stay lukewarm. Christ speaks in a way that cannot be ignored.

“But I’m so busy. I don’t have the time!”

What? You’re too busy. Sorry, you just got served a yellow card:

That’s a yellow card. You’ve been warned…

Doing these three readings will take you only 3-5 minutes. That’s the time of a commercial break. It will change your life for good. I promise. It takes 21 days to make a habit, so give it 21 days and see if you aren’t hooked. Put the Bible on your night stand and read it in the mornings. Start fresh.

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” – Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church

To: editor-surveyor

Going through all of these references would tale months though.

Say "Hi!" to the Mad Hatter while you're there.

981 posted on 10/05/2013 5:41:47 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

So far more people would be going to heaven if Jesus had never shown up...

Someone will call THIS comment, "Inane".

982 posted on 10/05/2013 5:43:23 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Something that is not a massive fail, that you can actually defend instead of attacking those who expose its lack of content.

There are NO tanks in Baghdad!

983 posted on 10/05/2013 5:44:32 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

So now Jesus Christ has no class because he called a spade a spade?

Just like St. Paul...

Galatians 5:12

984 posted on 10/05/2013 5:45:34 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Please, accept my apology for not waiting to hear it before I struck back.

You've no need to apologize, as I was the one confusing you.

985 posted on 10/05/2013 5:46:51 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Have you been doing much of that drolling lately?

986 posted on 10/05/2013 5:48:13 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

just maybe...........wait now.......he was wrong??

Nope; it is OBVIOUS he was an...

Wait for it...

LGM!

987 posted on 10/05/2013 5:51:34 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

DROOling; you BOOBS!!!

988 posted on 10/05/2013 5:52:23 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Christ gave us a religion (Catholic) to help explain and spread His word

If Priests where married and had GOBS of children; there'd be even MORE RCC's to 'spread the word'.

989 posted on 10/05/2013 5:53:48 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

lets say that you... are fully indoctrinated by the Organization you choose to join.

990 posted on 10/05/2013 5:54:48 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Mark 11:26 But if you will not forgive, neither will your Father that is in heaven, forgive you your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

991 posted on 10/05/2013 5:56:04 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith....)

I don't wanna bug you; but...

992 posted on 10/05/2013 5:56:41 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

You’ve outlined the Catholic faith quite well.

993 posted on 10/05/2013 5:57:30 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

994 posted on 10/05/2013 5:57:53 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

The Catholic religion is superior to ALL OTHERS, because Christ (God) Founded it

I have it on GOOD authority, that you guys messed up the BIBLE; which has been RESTORED in these Latter days...

MORMON

ATTITUDES OF SUPERIORITY

  1. I’m Superior; I have a special gift of the holy Ghost -- you don’t!
  2. I’m Superior; I have God’s true priesthood power -- you don’t!
  3. I’m Superior; I can go in God’s secret Temple -- you can’t!
  4. I’m Superior; I’ve been Endowed with special Gifts and Knowledge -- you’re just normal!
  5. I’m Superior; I’ll have my family with me in heaven -- you’ll be with strangers!
  6. I’m Superior; I’m becoming a God -- you aren’t!
  7. I’m Superior; My women know their place as servants of man and yours don’t.
  8. I’m Superior; YOUR creeds are wrong because they come from man - mine comes from God (you can find each one printed in our Scriptures).
  9. I’m Superior; I don’t HAVE a creed - I’ve got 13 Articles of Faith.
10. I'm Superior; I have 4 "Bibles"-- the standard works (5 if you count the JST) -- you've only got one: in as far as it is translated correctly.
11. I’m Superior; I can lie with impunity about such things as church membership, church growth, church doctrine, church history, church influence, etc. —                           -- You can’t.
12. I’m Superior; I am right (everybody knows) when I say 'evangelical' Christians are lunatics --

-- You’re a hideous narrow-minded bigot, who is persecuting me by practicing discrimination by saying I'm not a Christian.
13. I'm Superior; I have a testimony about a prophet -- you don't.
14. I'm Superior; I have a Scripture-producing Amos 3:7 prophet -- you don't
15. I’m Superior; I have a Living Prophet who talks to god every day -- you have a dim-witted hireling of Satan who only talks to himself.
16. I'm Superior; I have my calling & election made sure -- you don't.
17. I’m Superior; I have magic underwear to protect me from the bogey man -- you don’t.
18. I’m Superior; I have secret clasps and grips to give the angel so I get admitted to the celestial kingdom -- you don’t ;so you can’t.
19. I'm Superior; I know secret handshake codes for afterlife entrances-- you don't.
20. I’m Superior; I will see Joseph Smith setting on the right hand of GOD, when I get to Mormon heaven, and he will recognize me and judge me favorably -- You’re on your own; when you get to wherever you’re going!
21. I’m Superior; I’m going to hie to Kolob -- you’re going to who knows where.
22. I’m Superior; I get to have a harem and act like a celestial stud for time and all eternity -- you don’t.
23. I’m Superior; I have sun stones, moon stones, sky stones, cloud stones, Saturn stones, and the evil eye of Osirus guarding my temple

-- You have nothing but a stupid cross.
24. I’m Superior; My church has billions in assets stashed away -- yours has taken a stupid vow of poverty.
25. I'm Superior; Last - we have the power to keep a whole race out of our priesthood if we wanted to reinsert our 148-year legacy (we ARE still keeping an entire GENDER at bay!)

26. I'm superior; I have the "higher law" -- everyone else "lives under the "lesser law' because I say so...(over and over).

Revision 46.5

Semi-Official creed of the EXclusive club of Freeper Flying Inmans.

All rights liable to be abused.

995 posted on 10/05/2013 5:59:40 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

Whoops, you caught me...

996 posted on 10/05/2013 6:00:11 AM PDT by Iscool

WOW!!!

You have summoned forth the Great “N”!!!

I am dooly impressed!

997 posted on 10/05/2013 6:01:00 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

I don't wanna bug you; but...<

Copyright infringement!

But seriously, wonder how Black Flag got away with copyright infringement of the Catholic religion...(Unless Rome forgot to get a copyright)

998 posted on 10/05/2013 6:03:01 AM PDT by Iscool

skipped out on religion class did you??? a sin is an intentional violation of God's will....you must know that it is a sin, and you must commit the sin knowing that it is a serious sin against God....then you must never fully repent nor ask God's forgiveness (Catholic Confession fills the bill exactly)!!

Skipped out of BIBLE reading; eh?

Leviticus 5:14-6:7; 7:1-6

999 posted on 10/05/2013 6:04:31 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)

I'll await JUSTIFICATION of why the CAtholic version of the OT is different than the JEWISH one.

Or why the deuterocanonical books were not recognized as Scripture until the Council of Trent in the 1500's and why they were added.

In the meantime, how about some popecorn while waiting for an answer???

1,000 posted on 10/05/2013 6:05:35 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith....)

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