It's Day Two of my Read the Bible in a Year Challenge. I have already read ahead by one day. Hubby asked why I have to read selections from three different places each day instead of just going from beginning to end. I told him I have tried that before and it doesn't work. I have read Genesis about 92 times and fizzle out by the time I reach the middle of Exodus. For some odd reason I can't wait to read Kings. That should be happening around June!
I am going to ditch the daily Catechism reading. After I finish reading the Gospel I want to meditate on that for awhile. Reading the Catechism after Scripture is like having dry toast for dessert after a great meal. Not saying the Catechism is boring but my goal is to read the Bible in its entirety. Next year I can do the Catechism.
Even though I have taught RCIA and have explained many, many times that Genesis is NOT a historical textbook written chronologically, I still have trouble wrapping my brain around the two creation accounts in Chapter One and Two.
In Genesis 3 I noticed something I had not picked up on before (in my previous 92 readings of it!) and that is in verse 22 Adam is forbidden to eat of the Tree of Life because then he would live forever. In the Gospels Jesus refers to Himself as a vine (a type of tree of life, if you will) and He also refers to Himself as the Bread of Life (bread having come from a living plant - wheat) and when we eat this Bread we will live forever. I thought that was quite interesting.
As I wade through the bible I am also reading a book by Peter Kreeft called "You Can Understand the Bible." It is a great resource! Another big help is "Why Do Catholics Do That?" by Kevin Orlin Johnson. Chapter 35 explains the meaning behind the numbers and symbols in the bible. Once you understand these codes the proverbial scales fall from your eyes!
I know the New Testament fairly well thanks to regular Mass attendance but now it's time to move beyond that. I have always resisted reading the Old Testament and books like Reveleation because I didn't trust myself to "interpret" them properly. I am hoping that this time things will be different. I also have another resource - YOU! As I read the chapters I am jotting down questions and will post them here so that we can figure things out together.
