MC: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job


Book Description

In a world bombarded with information, what we long for is knowing how to live well-what the Bible calls wisdom. Meditate on the Wisdom books of the Bible to hear the source of wisdom-the God who made us. In these meditations we will hear the established wisdom passed down from earlier generations. These nuggets of wisdom are found in the book of Proverbs. A proverb is a traditional saying, and as such, proverbs are didactic, optimistic, practical, and conservative. Ecclesiastes contains a different kind of wisdom, built on the wisdom of Proverbs, but which asks what happens when proverbial wisdom fails. Ecclesiastes looks at the mysteries of life. It is reflective, speculative, pessimistic, and creative. It asks the hard questions, like how does life make sense? It explains that often, it doesn't. Plans fail. Fools triumph. We must trust God especially when things don't make sense. That deeper spirituality is put to the test in Job. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." This is a repeated theme in Proverbs. Job experiences a deeper fear of the Lord, one based on trust alone. By meditating on the ordeals of Job, we are brought closer to a God we might not like and do not understand. The only God we have. Meditating on these books will at times be a joy. At other times, meditation will be a challenge. Wisdom does not come easy. But it is a marvelous gift of God.




Wisdom Books


Book Description

Unlike most Old Testament books, the Wisdom Books don't relate scenes from Israel's history. Instead, these sayings, songs, and poems show us how to understand and deal with everyday problems through the lens of faith. From the suffering of Job, to the pragmatic proverbs, to the vanity of all things and the intimate love of God, these books spiritually nourish and instruct God's people how to live well and in accord with one another and all creation. Guided by the Spirit, all can learn to know, love, and fear the Lord. Part of the Liguori Catholic Bible Study, a series of 21 books introducing each book of the Bible, providing insight into the sacred words of antiquity and inviting you to discover the living Word and its impact on our daily lives. The narrative, study questions, reflections, key notes, prayers, and an introduction to the spiritual practice of lectio divina will deepen your understanding of Scripture.




MC: 1 and 2 Samuel


Book Description

“The word of the Lord was rare in those days.” Is it also rare in ours? Has God abandoned us? He sent his Son Jesus to live and die for us. He raised him from the dead and brought him back to his right hand. But after the ascension of Jesus, has God left us on our own to do the best we can to follow the example of Christ? Or does God still speak today? This study is written with the conviction that God still speaks today. He speaks through the Bible, his Word. He speaks through the lives of faithful Christians. He speaks to us, and we speak to him in prayer. He speaks in all the circumstances of life. Listening to God may be a frightening experience, but it is more dangerous to live our lives without hearing him. Are we listening? When we pray, do we bring our to-do list to God and in essence say, “Listen God, I’ve got stuff for you to do”? Or, like Samuel, do we say, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” When we hear the voice of God, are we willing to obey? Or, like Saul, do we listen and follow only when it suits us? Are we, like David, people after God’s own heart? This is an invitation to hear the voice of God in 1 and 2 Samuel. Read it in prayer. Listen to what others around you are hearing. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Come to this book with a humble heart to hear and to do the Word of the Lord.










The Catholic Study Bible


Book Description

This landmark resource, the first fully-based on the authoritative NABRE translation, contains the trustworthy study notes, expanded essays, and informational sidebars which have guided and informed students and general readers for 25 years. In this new edition, which comes in a protective slipcase, one-third of the Reading Guide materials are new, and all of the other Guides have been reviewed and revised by their original authors. The extensive Reading Guide, the focal point of this volume, leads the reader through the Scriptures, book by book. References and background information are clearly laid out to guide the reader to a fuller understanding of the Bible. New to this edition is a more extensive treatment of the biblical background, including history and archeology. Other outstanding features include: a 15-page glossary of special terms and complete Sunday and weekday lectionary readings for the liturgical years of the Church. Thirty-two beautiful pages of full-color Oxford Bible Maps come with a place-name index for easy reference. Perfect for both higher education and clergy, Bible study and general readers, The Catholic Study Bible is an essential resource for both experienced students and first-time readers. The New American Bible Revised Edition: The New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) brings to culmination the work of nearly 100 scholars, including translators, editors, and a subcommittee of Catholic bishops who provided extensive review of the biblical text over a period of many years. The NABRE is the first major amendment to the New American Bible translation since 1991. It features: *The first update of the Old Testament since 1970, taking into account recent archaeological and textual discoveries. *Complete revision of the Psalter.




MC: Jeremiah -- Daniel


Book Description

Even during exile, the Lord speaks through the faithful. Jeremiah and Lamentations give us a spirituality of judgment, punishment, and discipline. The Lord brings justice. Turning from the Lord has consequences. But the Lord loves his people, so he disciplines them for their own good. There are profound words of hope in these books, but hope comes only after God’s people have returned to the Lord. Ezekiel has amazing visions from God—heavenly chariots, a new Jerusalem, and dry bones brought back to life. What is unique about his prophetic life are the symbolic acts, many of them strange, that he does. He eats a scroll, lies on one side for more than a year, then lies on the other side for forty days. He not only speaks the word of the Lord, he enacts it. The spirituality of Ezekiel focuses on the faithfulness of God. Although Israel and Judah have repeatedly been unfaithful to the Lord, he welcomes them back and restores them to life with him. Most people remember the stories in Daniel—the fiery furnace and the lion’s den. These stories reflect the spiritual practices that sustained the faith of Daniel and others during the exile. Even more significant for Christian readers are Daniel’s visions, especially the vision of the Ancient of Days and the son of man. Daniel points us both to spiritual practices of the present while giving us pictures of a glorious future under the reign of the Lord.




The New American Bible Revised Edition, Large Print Edition


Book Description

"First published in 1970, the New American Bible is familiar to millions of American Catholics as the translation proclaimed in the Mass and in their missals. [This revised edition] brings to culmination the work of nearly 100 scholars, including translators, editors, and a subcommittee of Catholic bishops who provided extensive review of the biblical text. The first amendment to the New American Bible translation since 1991, the NABRE contains a revised translation of the Old Testament as well as a revision of the Psalter." -- back cover.




Walking With God


Book Description

Unlock the mysteries of Scripture by tying together the story of salvation! Written by Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins, Walking with God unpacks the central story woven throughout Scripture and presents it in an easy-to-read, concise manner. Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins take readers on a journey through the “narrative” books of the Bible—the ones that tell the story—and present a panoramic view of God’s glorious plan of salvation. Their expert commentary dives deep into the mysteries of Scripture, unlocking its riches and showing how these inspired words are meant for Catholics today. Selling over 100,000 copies, Walking with God is a beloved resource for Catholics longing to understand the story of salvation. Recommended on the top podcast Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™, this book can be used both for individual study and as a guide to further explore the Bible Timeline learning system, which is the backbone of Bible in a Year, The Bible Timeline Study, and more! Enter into the Scriptures with Walking with God. Witness the fascinating story of our Faith unfold, and see how you, at this moment in your life, fit into God’s plan for all of humanity. Reflect on your own or discuss with a Bible study group in your home or parish to gain a better understanding of the story of salvation history.