+JMJ+
I have a lot of problems with the idea of a “protestant bible,” but there was a time when the matter became personal.
For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, have a look in your inbox from yesterday.
Today? It’s part two of the story.
So, where was I …
That’s right, a younger, no-less handsome version of myself and a new blue Bible.
I’m tellin’ you, man, I was a man on a mission.
The plan was to read the entire Bible, from cover to cover, because that sounded like a good Christian thing to do …
And for a Catholic who was coming back to the Church, it made perfect sense.
I went line by line, page by page, right from the very beginning of Genesis.
One of the benefits I most appreciated was that I had my own copy to read from at Bible study.
A priest at my new parish was running a weekly group where he’d look at all the readings for the upcoming weekend, and show how they were all connected. For a revert like me at the time, this was exactly what I needed.
Everything was going great, I was gettin’ real Bible smart, but then something unexpected happened one night …
I couldn’t find the book for one of the passages from the Old Testament.
“Look,” I told the group, “I can’t find that book in my Bible.”
Everyone was puzzled.
“It’s like they made some mistake,” I said, “like they forgot to put it in!”
One of the group members, an old grandmother, was nice enough to skim through the table of contents with me.
“You see?” I told her, “That book is NOT in there!”
And that’s when it hit everyone all at once.
“Dude, you have the wrong bible.”
OK …
I’m paraphrasing here, and I forget exactly what was said in that moment of revelation, but it was clear to everybody …
I was reading from a “protestant bible.”
“But I didn’t know! I had no idea!”
It didn’t matter …
I was a dunce.
Needless to say, my face was pretty red.
Seriously, I had no idea I picked up the wrong book. I only chose the one I did because I liked the colour.
Brutal, eh?
I know, but that’s where I was in my faith journey at that point.
In the end, I picked up a good Catholic Bible, one that’s still on my family bookshelf right now, and everything worked out fine.
With my trusty new (and green) Catholic Bible, I eventually took the lead of the entire study group. The priest moved on to a new parish and tapped me to be his successor, because he wanted the program to continue. Eventually, the new priest took over, which made me kind of sad, but it was for the best.
Anyway, there’s a lot of good that came out of this tale of heresy and woe.
My time in that Bible study group helped to renew and strengthen my faith and sense of service to others in the Church, which is exactly what I needed.
And now?
It’s a reminder for me, and for all the Catholic fathers out there, about the importance of passing on the Faith to the next generation.
I’m not going to say I was poorly catechized during my childhood, but I can definitely see many shortcomings.
The responsibility now?
The kids need to know.
The kids need guidance.
The kids need to see that the Church and Her teachings are important to their fathers. That’s how the Faith continues in the next generation.
The other valuable lesson I learned that day?
Read the title of the book you’re buying a little more carefully.
That’s enough for now.
Stay holy my friend and God bless.
Vic
The Marketing Trad
Post Scriptum – Book your paid consultation now, and we’ll see if we can come up with a plan that works best for your business. Your consultation fee will go directly toward whatever deal we negotiate. The best way, and the only way, you can reach me is at [email protected].
Post Post Scriptum – It’s time to continue down the Lenten path to holiness, so, I present to you The GREATEST Email Guide to Humility you’ve EVER seen on the Internet. Just to be clear, though, I’m just the middleman, sharing quotes from Pope Leo XIII’s book “The Practice of Humility.” Today’s quote:
“Endeavor not to cause sorrow to anyone, no matter how inferior he may be, either with words, actions or conduct, unless duty, obedience, or charity demands it.”