Jan 16, 2022 – Immerse Yourself in Scripture and Tradition this Year!
Christ reveals Himself to us both through Sacred Scripture (the Bible), but also He reveals Himself to us in what we Catholics call “Tradition,” the lived experience and wisdom of Christ’s instituted Church that He gave us to know how to authentically and faithfully understand, interpret and apply His teachings to our lives.
As Vatican II said in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation “…Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity, so that led by the light of the Spirit of truth, they may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently, it is not from Sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence.” (Dei Verbum, 9)
Thus a great way to know Christ more deeply and be formed in Him is to immerse ourselves in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as it is in and through these things He reveals Himself to us and to the world.
Sacred Scripture: This year I have decided that I am going to read the entire Bible this year, following along with Fr. Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” Podcast. He is following a Bible reading plan that is not simply cover to cover from Genesis to Revelation. Rather the reading plan used is inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline developed by Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins that identifies the 14 narrative books that tell the story of Scripture from beginning to end. The remaining “supplemental books” of the Bible are then contextualized within the storyline of the 14 narrative books. The Psalms and Proverbs are spread out throughout the year to provide additional opportunities for prayer, reflection, and practical wisdom.
It is only about 20-25 minutes a day. And it is a great way to be immersed in the word of God and in the great story of God’s saving work, and being formed in the Biblical Vision of the world.
You can learn more about it here https://ascensionpress.com/pages/biy-registration
Sacred Tradition: But not only is God’s Word spoken to us through His inspired Word, that is, the Scriptures, but you may also consider immersing yourself in the “Tradition” of the Church.
One of the best ways to do this is through the Saints: Their lives, their writings, the teachings. “Butler’s Lives of the Saints” is a classic compilation of an introduction/overview to the lives of many Saints that we celebrate throughout the year. Or reading directly the writings of the Saints. The Confessions by Saint Augustine, The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, or Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux, the writings or words of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the poetry of St. John of the Cross or the poetry of St. Therese of Lisieux are just a few of the options of our great treasure trove of spiritual wisdom handed on to us from the lives and teachings of the Saints.
Finally, you may consider actually reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church!
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
