Five Ways to Stay Connected Through the Scriptures this Year

Allison Gingras offers encouragement to deepen your relationship with the Lord by spending time with Scripture.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NRSVCE)

Make 2023 the year you stay connected to the Lord via time spent with scripture. Whether new to reading the Bible or a seasoned pro, here are five new year's resolutions to guide your journey. As St. Jerome wisely reminded the faithful, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." Spending just a few minutes each day in the Word will help you develop your spiritual muscles and get better acquainted with the Lord.

Jot down a verse a week on an index card and leave it around the house. Place it on your refrigerator, car dashboard, or bathroom mirror; consider taping it onto the TV remote or your favorite box of cookies. This method of staying connected is a great way to keep the Word of God always before you and also a fantastic way to evangelize and share the Word of God with others in your home.

Read the daily Mass readings as often as you can, even if only able to eke out enough time for the Gospel. I'm embarrassed to admit how old I was before I realized the Mass readings were Scripture; not sure how I missed that important detail in my catechesis. If the daily readings aren't feasible, at least prepare for Sunday Mass by reviewing the day's offerings. What to go a step further? Numerous websites, Bibles with commentaries, and publications exist to help you understand more fully the context and Church's teaching for each passage, which prepares your heart to receive all the grace and blessings God wishes to give you at every Mass.

Purchase a journal that offers Scripture atop each page. I've seen them at retail stores, as well as through Catholic online sellers (supporting small Catholic businesses is always a win-win). Use the Scripture on each page to help you meditate on the Word of God. This idea is a beneficial method for getting started if you are struggling to decide where to begin when it comes to reading the Bible. Additionally, there are tremendous benefits to writing out your thoughts, even if we are talking just scribbled notes or a word or two. Physically writing our thoughts has been scientifically shown to assist not only in processing but also in memorizing.

null

Speaking of memorizing, select a few favorite verses to commit to memory. St. Paul encouraged believers to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16, RSV2CE). We don't always have a Bible handy to turn to the verses which bring us console or consolation, especially in difficult moments. Therefore, having them tucked safely in our hearts means they are always accessible when we need them. The first passage I memorized was from the Letter to the Philippians: "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, RSV2CE) Anxiety ruled my life, and I found little peace from my worries. “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, RSV2CE); I guarantee whichever words you need to strengthen or sustain will be found in the Scriptures.

Choose one of the books of the Bible to focus on reading for the month (or a few months if you desire to go slower). You set the pace; it is your scroll with the Scriptures—your encounter with Christ—the Word made Flesh. Use a Catholic Bible with a commentary (my favorite is the Didache Bible from Ignatius Press); I also like to find a variety of Catholic commentaries online. "Sacred Scripture must be read and interpreted in the light of the same Spirit by whom it was written" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 111). So, although Catholics are allowed personal revelation, those glorious moments the Holy Spirit breaks into the hidden places in our lives, it is crucial to include contemplation of the teachings and interpretations of the Church.

Click to tweet:
Spend just a few minutes each day in the Word to develop your spiritual muscles and get better acquainted with the Lord. #catholicmom

Still, trying to figure out how to add more Scripture? Sign up for a daily email on the Mass Readings or just the Gospel—CatholicMom.com, Diocesan.com (My Parish App), Word on Fire, and Family Rosary offer inspiring reflections. Experiment until you find the one best suited for you. The goal is communicating, listening, and learning about God, in whichever way you determine works best for you.

In the end, relationships are built through spending time together, and I can't think of a more significant relationship than the one we foster with our Triune God.

null