Book Reviews and More: The Bible in a Year Companion Volume I Days 1-120 - Fr. Mike Schmitz and Jeff Cavins

The Bible in a Year Companion

Volume I Days 1-120

Fr. Mike Schmitz

Jeff Cavins

Ascension Press

ISBN 9781950784998

eISBN 9781954881013

ASIN B09R661LR8

I completed the Bible in a Year in 2021. Then early in 2022 I attended the The Bible in a Year Retreat, and absolutely loved it. When I found out about the three volumes of companions for the Bible in a year I picked this volume up right away and keep my eye out as this one was nearing completion for the second volume to be available. These volumes make the Bible in a Year an even better experience.

The description of this volume states:

“The Bible in a Year Companion guide takes Catholics through the award-winning podcast The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)™ including daily summaries, transcripts of Fr. Mike’s daily prayers, and extra content for each episode.

It’s the perfect way to remember what you’re hearing, as well as learn even more about each part of Scripture!

The Companion presents daily content for each episode of the podcast, including:

The proprietary Bible in a Year Reading Plan Summary of the key points and highlights of Fr. Mike’s commentary on the daily readings.

"Take It to Prayer", where Catholics will be able to pray the daily prayer alongside Fr. Mike and the rest of the BIY community.

Unique content surrounding each day’s readings, from images and Q&As to prayer prompts and ways to live out the Scriptures in real life.

In addition to the daily content, each time period will have a Time Period Introduction and Review. Written by Jeff Cavins, these will help Catholics to know what to look for in the days ahead, and to recall what has happened in the days completed.”

And father Mike states at the end of the introduction:

“I believe that this Bible in a Year Companion is a great tool to take you deeper. It is one thing to be exposed to the Story, but it is another to remember it. This Companion will help those who are so quick to forget—which is all of us! … In this world, where we are so tempted toward distraction and distress, we now have a resource to understand how the story of salvation unfolds and how we can fit into that story today.”

Each time period begins with an introduction by Jeff Cavins. This is where Jeff explains the colour of that period, what it means and why. He gives a brief overview of key events, people, and changes from period to period. And each period ends with a recap and summary from Jeff. Each day has a two page spread. The first page Had the Day number and title, And a section called Reflect on the Word. The Second page has the Passages read at the top and two more sections; Take It To Prayer and Dive Deeper. A sample day is:

“Day 24: Tears of Joy

Reflect on the Word

• When Joseph reveals who he is to his brothers, he weeps.

• Just as a mother weeps when she finds her child who was lost, we weep during joyful moments because we know the situation could have gone otherwise.

• Joseph weeps because he knows that he could have gone the rest of his life without seeing his father and brothers again or without meeting Benjamin.

• We weep in joy because we know how fragile we are, and we know that if the Lord isn’t with us, this fragility leads to death and destruction.

• God is with us right now. So there is room in our lives for joy and tears—and joyful tears.

• What joy breaks your heart today, knowing that it could be otherwise?

• What sorrow is breaking your heart today?

Take It to Prayer

Father in heaven, we thank you, and we give you praise. Thank you so much for the gift of this day. Thank you for the gift of your Word. Thank you for the gift of revealing your heart to us, because that is what you do in your Word. You speak to us, and you continue to speak to us—even, Lord, when your Word is challenging—even, Lord, when your Word is confusing and we don’t understand what is going on and we don’t understand what you are trying to say to us. Still, you continue to speak, and we continue to listen. Give us hearts that can understand what we are hearing. Give us hearts to understand what you are saying. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Dive Deeper

What is the relationship between the stories of Benjamin and Joseph?

The stories of Joseph and Benjamin play a central role in the movement of the Israelites to Egypt, which will end up being a four-hundred-year sojourn in slavery. Joseph and Benjamin are born to Jacob’s favourite wife, Rachel, and are Jacob’s eleventh and twelfth sons. Of the two brothers, Joseph enjoys pride of place with Jacob, as seen by his father’s gift to him of the coat of many colours (or, “a long robe with sleeves”). This obvious preference leads to jealousy among his brothers, eventually leading them to sell the seventeen-year-old Joseph into Egyptian slavery. Jacob believes that Joseph has been killed by wild animals, leaving Benjamin as Rachel’s only surviving child.

Immediately before Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, he has two dreams—one with sheaves of wheat (see Genesis 37:5-8), the other with eleven stars (see Genesis 37:9-11), all of which are bowing down to him. These dreams foretell his brothers’ journey to Egypt during the famine seeking food and how the “eleven stars” (his brothers) will bow down to him.

–Jeff Cavins”

This is an excellent resource. Most days I have listened to the pod cast in the morning. And then on my first coffee break at work, I read through the two pages for that day. I love praying the pray that Father Mike prayed that day, and I love the going deeper sections. I believe this is a must have resource to support your Bible in a Year journey. This is my second time through the pod cast and I see it being an annual journey going forward. If you are listening to the BIAY pick this up as a supplement to that adventure.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan!

The Bible in a Year Resources:

The Great Adventure Bible - Ascension Press

The Bible in a Year Retreat

The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume I

The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume II

The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume III

...

Books By Father Mike Schmitz:

Made for Love: Same-Sex Attraction and the Catholic Church

How to Make Great Decisions

Quick Catholic Lessons with Fr. Mike