How It's Going, My Faith Journey Update - 2/22/2026

For most of my life, I've heard and read the Bible. Some people think us Catholics aren't "Bible believing Christians." They're wrong, but to be fair, we Catholics also adhere to a tradition rich with religious and biblical scholarship, and accept the Magisterium (i.e. the authority) of the Catholic Church. If outsiders watch us practice, they don't see the Bible as the centerpiece that their tradition may make it. If the Bible is allegedly missing in our Church, if it's hiding in there, it's hiding in full and plain sight. How can you miss it?

My Ascension Press Note Taking Bible.

For me, I am happy to say that I'm finding it rewarding, I can use the word fun even, to study sacred scripture and learn more and more. A little insight into my Bible study as it is evolving into practice. As I've stated before, I started my study with the Gospel of St. Matthew. I'm learning all about it: when it was written, the context as written, all kinds of stuff. I first read the text itself, from my Ascension Press Great Adventure Bible. I love this Bible. It's a note-taking version, and when something stands out to me I often will highlight it and make notes in the margin. I did a prayerful reading first time through, reading a chapter per day. It's remarkable how often, throughout that first 4 weeks of reading, that the Gospel of St. Matthew came up in daily Mass readings or Sunday homilies. This also happens often from my reading in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I enjoy seeing how the Church's precepts are manifest in and drawn from sacred scripture. And lastly, but far from least, places where the Liturgy draws from scripture are a shining light within the gospel as I read it.

One example, just before we receive Communion during the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest says: "Behold, the Lamb of God. Happy are we who are called to His supper." The congregation replies, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed." So, reading Chapter 8 of the Gospel of St. Matthew, there was a centurion who asks Jesus to cure his servant. When Jesus asks the centurion to take Him to him, the centurion replies: "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed." It sounds familiar for a reason. I can't help but think of the gospel as the congregation's words are spoken, and I can't not think of Holy Communion when I read the passage. I'm finding many of these connections and I fall more in love with Jesus as each is added to my acumen.

The St. Ignatius has extensive footnotes, meaningful, educational, contextual.

OK, back to my study. After I finished, I commenced to re-read the same gospel, this time from my St. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, which has accompanying notes that are almost staggering in volume and significance. Again and again I found reason to flip to Old Testament books to see the connection between ancient prophesy and foreshadows and the recorded story of Christ in Matthew. Similarly, as I read, I was often back in the Great Adventure, adding notes based on my learning. Second time through was really great. The fact that both the note taking and study Bible are in the same translation, Revised Standard Version, 2nd Catholic Edition (which they abbreviate RSV-2CE) was cool. The example page I posted, above, is about 1/3 gospel, and 2/3 notes.

Speaking of versions, we have 5 Bibles in our home, comprised of 4 translations. Which is kind of funny, because the next step in my study of Matthew, is reading the 350 page Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture volume on The Gospel of Matthew. It's in a 5th, different translation, called the New American Bible, or NAB. It's the same book, same story. The total number of translations across all publishers of all Bibles, Catholic or no, is mind boggling. This book just further enriches my understanding, with more references to Old Testament and explanations of historical context and Church application throughout. I'm about halfway through.

I can't tell you how rewarding and deeply spiritual it is to read Matthew, or to hear it discussed on YouTube or at Mass, with the study as a foundation. My personal spiritual and prayerful reading of this Gospel is different now. I'm never going to be one quoting memorized verses or calling out chapter and verse citations in discussion in the amazing way some of my Protestant friends can and do. But I do know I get it, and I thirst to get more and more and more. At this rate, each Gospel is a near 3-month curriculum. I love the way this is going. I love knowing, understanding, and this sense I get as I come across things I've studied that this resides in me. If Jesus is the Word, by absorbing this book and taking it in, then a little bit of Jesus is in me. I couldn't be happier. I'm drinking it up, thirsty for more.

It's so nice to be home. Maybe the Bible isn't our centerpiece. What it is is a 2000 year old cornerstone of the Church our Savior founded. The gates of Hell sure have tried, but they haven't prevailed yet.

Back with another edition of My Spiritual Journey in a week or so.

Best wishes, friends. May God bless us all.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.