Why i don't read the Bible

[distracted]

I don’t read the Bible at home (etc) because i would rather HEAR scripture read to me daily, at Mass, while in the Presence of Jesus… Word Incarnate…

When i read the Bible outside the Church, I sometimes run into snags (of one sort or another), things i don’t understand… (etc). I am not against reading (most of) the New T. at home, but just don’t do it very often since I go to daily Mass as often as possible.
Comments?? thanks

 

[TraditionalCath]

I don’t read the Bible at home (etc) because i would rather HEAR scripture read to me daily, at Mass, while in the Presence of Jesus… Word Incarnate…

When i read the Bible outside the Church, I sometimes run into snags (of one sort or another), things i don’t understand… (etc). I am not against reading (most of) the New T. at home, but just don’t do it very often since I go to daily Mass as often as possible.
Comments?? thanks

you can also hear it in disk if you so inclined

 

[Sr_Sally]

If you go to daily Mass, you’ll hear the Bible read over the course of 2 years and I believe the NT within one year. That’s a pretty good rate. Daily Mass often has a very abbreiviated homily, but you will still hear some explanation of the verses read.

Many people are auditory learns (they prefer to hear things spoken or read aloud) and learn and remember much better that way. Sounds like you are one of them.

The Church does encourage us to read and study scripture and going to daily Mass is one way of doing that. I’m sure you have other devotional practices you follow on your own, so I wouldn’t say you are missing anything.

If your parish offers a Bible study or other type of adult class, you should consider joining. you might also want to ask you priest about a book or CD that can help you read the Bible on your own. But again, daily Mass is a GREAT way to hear and learn the Bible–and you get the wonderful consolation of frequent communion!

 

[RobNY]

If you go to daily Mass, you’ll hear the Bible read over the course of 2 years and I believe the NT within one year. That’s a pretty good rate. Daily Mass often has a very abbreiviated homily, but you will still hear some explanation of the verses read.

Actually, the complete cycle exposes one to about 75% of the NT and 23% of the OT. That’s alot! But it’s not all.

 

[water]

I try to read daily readings on my own even if I go to daily mass. Personally, I like it that way - it takes sometimes to allow what you read and what you hear sinked in.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

A good practice is to read not just the daily readings from the Bible, but the whole chapter/section in which the reading is situated. Read enough to get the setting for the message.

 

[mercygate]

A good study program might help the OP. The Bible is complex – and THRILLING. There is so much to learn!

Try Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

 

[water]

A good practice is to read not just the daily readings from the Bible, but the whole chapter/section in which the reading is situated. Read enough to get the setting for the message.

A good study program might help the OP. The Bible is complex – and THRILLING. There is so much to learn!

Try Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

yeah, I bought about 9 books on NT from Ignatius, and they are very helpful.

The problem is that my laziness gets me many times no matter what kind of books I have.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Another aspect of reading Scripture is lectio divina. It’s a completely different experience from listening to the readings in that it allows the Holy Spirit to speak to you directly. More info is available at valyermo.com/ld-art.html

 

[TOP]

I don’t read the Bible at home (etc) because i would rather HEAR scripture read to me daily, at Mass, while in the Presence of Jesus… Word Incarnate…

When i read the Bible outside the Church, I sometimes run into snags (of one sort or another), things i don’t understand… (etc). I am not against reading (most of) the New T. at home, but just don’t do it very often since I go to daily Mass as often as possible.
Comments?? thanks

I can understand this. Many times, I limit myself with scriptures meaning. It is living, eternal and infinite. The Priest reveals some of it at the Mass and I pray the Spirit guides his homily. I still read the bible , but I try to do it with fresh eyes every time and ask the Lord to help me understand what I need to know. For this , I like to randomly open and start to read. It usually doesn’t sink in right away like it does at Mass though. If I come to a conclusion about scripture, I don’t trust myself until I know of the Church’s teachings or ECF’s about it. I can’t read Revelations now. Too much going on for my little brain. Tim

 

[Teeliumtrozzle]

Yeah, I absolutely couldnt help hating some things in the OT…But you do NOT need to listen to a lot of it ever, especially Leviticus and Deuteronomy.Jesus replaced all that…I dont know what the Lord was thinking back then…But he changed his mind, a long time ago.

 

[mercygate]

Yeah, I absolutely couldnt help hating some things in the OT…But you do NOT need to listen to a lot of it ever, especially Leviticus and Deuteronomy.Jesus replaced all that…I dont know what the Lord was thinking back then…But he changed his mind, a long time ago.

Actually, when you do study Scripture, you see how all of that fits in with the new Covenant and leads up to it. The old is “fulfilled” not done away with.

 

[CatholicCajun]

I do not get to make daily Mass, but I do get the Magnificat and I get to read the Mass readings everyday and I FINALLY have the entire Navarre Bible so when I read something I don’t understand I go to the footnotes and if I still do not have an answer then I go to my Collegeville Commentary and if that does not satisfy me, I call a Priest. God Bless.

 

[blessedstar]

Well I wouldn’t let the fact that you don’t understand the whole of Sacred Scripture put you off, no-one understands it to its very deepest meaning, only God, His Blessed Virgin Mother Mary and His Saints and Angels in Heaven understand fully to the deepest meaning because to understand Sacred Scripture entirely is to know God entirely and this is what those in Heaven fully behold.

Sacred Scripture is the ‘Word’ and the Word is Jesus and as St John writes ‘In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God’ or words to that effect.

The Catholic Faith holds the fullest understanding of Sacred Scripture and of God on earth, everything that is taught by the Church is Truth (God) and safeguarded by the Holy Spirit.

I read Sacred Scripture everyday, I get in bed, put on my bedside lamp, pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment and then I open the Scripture and read slowly and prayerfully. If I don’t understand I make it in my way to find out the next day what the Church teaches about that particular piece of Scripture. This reading of Sacred Scripture has deepened my faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit has helped me to understand, know and love God better.

It has also been my Good Counsel and very often has been timely reading in my life. My spiritual reading is Sacred Scripture, I read very little else these days. I used to read about every Saint going and all sorts of spiritual writers and this is good, but over time I have found my best source of spiritual reading and growth to be that of Sacred Scripture.

It is good to hear the Word at Mass, but as other posters say, you will not hear all of the Word, not all of Sacred Scripture is read throughout the cycles of the Church even over the different years.

You read Sacred Scripture, for what you don’t understand you pray and seek to understand and you will find that you will grow in understanding, faith, hope and love in truth you will grow more Christ-like.

In the Living Prayer of my life.

 

[mercygate]

Well I wouldn’t let the fact that you don’t understand the whole of Sacred Scripture put you off, no-one understands it to its very deepest meaning, only God, His Blessed Virgin Mother Mary and His Saints and Angels in Heaven understand fully to the deepest meaning because to understand Sacred Scripture entirely is to know God entirely and this is what those in Heaven fully behold.

Sacred Scripture is the ‘Word’ and the Word is Jesus and as St John writes ‘In the beginning there was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God’ or words to that effect.

The Catholic Faith holds the fullest understanding of Sacred Scripture and of God on earth, everything that is taught by the Church is Truth (God) and safeguarded by the Holy Spirit.

I read Sacred Scripture everyday, I get in bed, put on my bedside lamp, pray to the Holy Spirit for discernment and then I open the Scripture and read slowly and prayerfully. If I don’t understand I make it in my way to find out the next day what the Church teaches about that particular piece of Scripture. This reading of Sacred Scripture has deepened my faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit has helped me to understand, know and love God better.

It has also been my Good Counsel and very often has been timely reading in my life. My spiritual reading is Sacred Scripture, I read very little else these days. I used to read about every Saint going and all sorts of spiritual writers and this is good, but over time I have found my best source of spiritual reading and growth to be that of Sacred Scripture.

It is good to hear the Word at Mass, but as other posters say, you will not hear all of the Word, not all of Sacred Scripture is read throughout the cycles of the Church even over the different years.

You read Sacred Scripture, for what you don’t understand you pray and seek to understand and you will find that you will grow in understanding, faith, hope and love in truth you will grow more Christ-like.

In the Living Prayer of my life.

. . . and the fun never stops! No matter how much graced understanding the Holy Spirit gives you, there are always layers upon layers to ponder. One might almost be tempted regret the thought that in Heaven it will all be clear to us since the adventure of discovery is so full of joy!

 

[blessedstar]

Reading Sacred Scripture by Thomas Kempis:

**The Fifth Chapter

Reading the Holy Scripture

TRUTH, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction.

Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons.

Our curiosity often impedes our reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.

If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words of the saints; do not be displeased with the sayings of the ancients, for they were not made without purpose.**

 

[distracted]

Daily Mass often has a very abbreiviated homily,

I think a lot of homilies are abbreviated these days… Why do priests always assume people want short homilies??

Many people are auditory learns

I don’t think its so much that (?) but that for some reason, i accept the “difficult passages” in the Word of God as truly being the Word of God more easily when at Mass… I think it’s because at Mass we are in the Presence of Christ…

The Church does encourage us to read and study scripture

Hmmm… I have never had a priest encourage the congregation to read the Bible… I’m sure its not because they are against doing that, just that… maybe they figure you get “enough” at Mass or whatever… Also, they probably figure you will misinterpret things… i dont hold it against them because Scripture can and often has been misinterpreted…

I’m sure you have other devotional practices you follow on your own

Rosary and St. Jude novenas
If your parish offers a Bible study or other type of adult class, you should consider joining. !

This is another weird thing: have never (virtually never) been to parish where they had Bible studies… Oh, wait, i remember ONE…

 

[DebChris]

I don’t read the Bible at home (etc) because i would rather HEAR scripture read to me daily, at Mass, while in the Presence of Jesus… Word Incarnate…

When i read the Bible outside the Church, I sometimes run into snags (of one sort or another), things i don’t understand… (etc). I am not against reading (most of) the New T. at home, but just don’t do it very often since I go to daily Mass as often as possible.
Comments?? thanks

In the past, only the clergy could read. The faithful “read” the clergy as you are doing when attending Mass and listening to the Scripture as it is read.
At Ft. Sheridan, I learned that I could read the Bible in one year by reading 3 chapters a day and 5 on Sunday, something I have done several times using different translations. I now pray the Liturgy of the Hours and use Lectio Divina (sporadically) for journalling as directed by a Spiritual Director.
At orientation for the theology class I never took, the monk suggested looking for the questions instead of the answers when reading scripture, a very freeing idea for me. As a result I have stumbled across answers. For example, Genesis says “a man will leave father and mother and cling to his wife” while the commandments say “Honor your father and mother.” The question was resolved for me when I read Tobit.
A Bible study I attended said when reading scripture,“simply crawl into your Father’s arms and let him tell you a story.”
Everything I just wrote can be summed into one word. Relax.

 

[distracted]

In the past, only the clergy could read. The faithful “read” the clergy as you are doing when attending Mass and listening to the Scripture as it is read.

Funny how this “old” way works so well, at least for me

Lectio Divina

Never heard of this - Could you explain…?

Everything I just wrote can be summed into one word. Relax.

That’s why i prefer to hear the Scriptures at Mass… I can relax… and listen… (and listen better than otherwise, usually).

 

[distracted]

TRUTH, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures;

This is one reason i like the Pope so much - he cares more about the Truth than about pleasing people… (“false” ecumenism). Also, i wanted to comment about how Scirpture is not always eloquent, and yet it usually moves us far more than the most eloquent non-bibilical literature…

…the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever.

So true… To bring up the pope again: I feel that some people are unenthused about Ratzinger becoming Pope because he is so different (in style) from JP II. Yet, he has certain strong qualities that i feel were somewhat “weak” (for lack of a better word) in JP II. For one thing, he doesn’t seem to care much about trying to win a popularity contest (not that JP cared excessively about that…) but anyway…
sometimes people let personality get in the way of what is being said…
Now my mind is wandering… I think of how sometimes family members don’t listen to things we say muhc yet if they hear it somewhere else… it somehow sounds more valid… hmmm…

Our curiosity often impedes our reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by.

I’m not sure i understand exactly what you mean here… (?)

B]