Reading the Bible

Although I never thought to put this one item on my "bucket list," it should have been there at the very top. For the last four nights, Barbara and I have been reading the Bible. I have found I have a desire to read it, to understand it, to read God's Word and how it applies to our lives. I've read many good books over the years -- hundreds if not thousands -- but none with more relevance to the age in which we live. And, sadly, I have so little knowledge of what lies within the Bible's pages. So this week we began reading in the Book of Proverbs. Barbara tells me that this book was written by Solomon, son of David. I have to depend on her knowledge because I am admittedly woefully ignorant of the Bible's teachings. As we read Proverbs, occasionally we comment on a passage's applicability to our lives, or we may remark when a proverb is repeated sometimes in several different ways. In my years growing up at home, Mom and Dad always made sure we attended weekly Mass, the occasional mission services, Stations of the Cross, and we recited the Rosary nightly during Lent. I thought I was a pretty faithful Christian. But my knowledge was sadly lacking. I had ignored the Bible. My interest has been piqued in our Sunday School class. Barbara and I attend an hour-long class prior to Sunday's worship service. We have been studying the Gospel according to Luke, and I am impressed by the knowledge and foresight of our class members' interpretations of its text. I offer little so as not to display my ignorance. You know the old saying, "It's better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt." I couldn't even tell you in what order the Bible's books are presented. My knowledge was pretty much limited to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Anyway, I have great admiration for our instructor, Ron, who leads us through the weekly passages, offers thought-provoking questions and guides our discussion. There is so much more to learn when delving into Jesus' life with other interested followers. Before we began this class, the Bible was, for me, mainly a decorative addition to a coffee table or a receptacle for written family histories. I have always wanted to read the Bible, but to pick up a thick book in small print with thousands of footnotes and pages and pages of maps and commit to reading it was a daunting task. And when I opened it I was intimidated. How would I ever be able to understand what I read? This class has stirred my interest and helped me get beyond the "fear factor." Several weeks ago we attended the funeral of the great man who taught our Sunday School class before the ravages of cancer became too great for him to continue. Ernie was our instructor for only a couple times since we joined, but his knowledge of and love of the Bible was evident in the extensive notes and thought-provoking questions he posed to us. We were told that Ernie had read through the Bible seven times. Seven times! Here was a man who so loved God's Word and was committed to helping others understand and appreciate it that he read it over and over and challenged his Sunday School class to probe deeper into the ministry of Christ. When Ernie passed away, Barb and I waited in line for 45 minutes to express our sympathies to his wife and family. Ernie had touched so many lives. His example also made a deep impression on me and made me wonder why I am not more like that. So I am hopeful that we will continue to spend some time every night to read the Bible. Barb can tell me her thoughts, and eventually I'll probably get comfortable enough to share mine. But having read the first 20 chapters of the Book of Proverbs means there's a whole lot more reading to do. I hope and pray that I have the love, conviction and passion to read and absorb it.