The priest is correct. It is not necessary for a congregant to bow to the Bible during the Mass. I understand that this is your private devotion, and as a private devotion it is not wrong. But the Mass is public worship, and all present, priest and laity alike, should only be engaging in those gestures the Church outlines in the rubrics of the liturgy. When you insert your private gestures into a public liturgy, it has the potential to create confusion for others who wonder if they are doing something wrong by not doing as you do.
I can only recommend that you accept your priest’s counsel and stop bowing at this point during the liturgy. You are still free to pray silently for the grace to be open to God’s word as it is proclaimed in Scripture, but you do not need to bow while doing so.
