Book Reviews and More: A Year With the Bible 365 Daily Reflections - Henry Wansbrough OSB

A Year With the Bible - 365 Daily Reflections

CTS Scriptures

Henry Wansbrough OSB

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781784696184

CTS Booklet SC126

I read this volume over the last year, and plan on starting it again on January first and reading it through again. While reading this I was also reading Companion to the Sunday Gospels Year A, also by Dom Henry, and last year I read Year C. The year prior to reading this I also read:

The Gospel According to Mark (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Matthew (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Luke (Introduction)

The Gospel According to Luke: Gospel for the Year of Mercy

The Gospel According to John (Introduction)

The Acts of the Apostles (Introduction)

The Letters of Paul (Introduction)

The Psalms (Introduction)

All which contain introductions by Dom Henry. About Dom Henry we are informed:

“Dom Henry Wansbrough, OSB, is a renowned biblical scholar who regularly writes exegesis and reflections on scripture. He recently completed a new translation of the Bible, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible. He is a Benedictine based at Ampleforth Abbey.”

This volume is set out with a page a year. The sections in the book are:

Preface

PART ONE - The Law and Historical Books

Days 1-110

PART TWO - The Wisdom Books and The Prophets

Days 111-212

PART THREE -The Gospels and Acts

Days 213-297

PART FOUR - Pauline Letters, Letters to All Christians

and Revelation

Days 297-365

Appendix: The Bible in 365 Passages to Read

The preface states:

“It has been a pleasure to respond to the request of the Catholic Truth Society to write this book. Its aim is to help readers come to a fuller knowledge and love of the Bible. My plan has been to explore the whole thrust of the Bible, drawing on a wide variety of passages which cast light on the purpose of the Bible, to lay out God's gradual revelation of the divine love in the history of Israel, how God guided individuals and Israel itself to a greater knowledge of God's loving mercy and purposes for humanity. This may be seen in the divine choice of individuals and in the guidance of history through thick and thin, leading up to the climax of history in the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the proclamation of the Good News to the nations by his Apostles and chosen messengers.

This is a work of love. It is not to be rushed; the comments must be read and enjoyed in partnership with the biblical texts commented, perhaps first, perhaps afterwards, but always in partnership with the biblical texts and in peace and prayer. This is the manner of the age-old monastic tradition of lectio divina, a meditative reading of the scriptures.

The passages chosen are laid out in the order in which they occur in the Christian Bible. They are set out according to the four traditional divisions: the Law (leading into the Histories), the Prophets and the 'Wisdom Books of the Old Testament, then the New Testament. It is probably most coherent to read them in that order, which lights up the gradual progress of revelation. Don't worry if you miss a day; just pick up from where you left off, but keep to the order of passages rather than the day of the year. Some may prefer to alternate passages from the Old and the New Testaments.

In an appendix is given a suggested order for a reader who wishes to cover the whole Bible through each day of the year. There may be readers who wish to make a point of reading the whole Bible in a single year. For them a plan is given in the Appendix, allotting a passage to each day. Most of these passages contain a section commented, though not necessarily on that day. Nevertheless, these commentaries should bring to the surface the meaning and importance of the passage. Any translation of the Bible may be used, but you may find the New Revised Standard Version, the English Standard Version, the Jerusalem Bible or the Revised New Jerusalem Bible the most satisfactory.”

A sample reflection is:

“Day 15

Genesis 42-45

Joseph's Revenge on his Brothers

The story of Joseph includes a number of pairs: two stories of the sale of Joseph to merchants, two officials in prison, two pairs of dreams. In the course of the drama of the recognition of Joseph there are more pairs: two expeditions, two interviews, two tricks played by Joseph on his brothers. But the real fascination of the story is its irony: Joseph's original dream of lording it over his brothers comes true. 'The brothers who engineered Joseph's captivity in Egypt are now struggling to save his brother Benjamin from the same fate. The imprisonment of Simeon echoes the imprisonment of Joseph himself long ago. The supposed 'then' of Joseph's divination-cup by his brothers alludes to the young Joseph's divining that he would dominate them.

A further feature is the character-drawing: the characters remain the same as they always were. Old Jacob is crotchety and full of self-pity. He lectures his sons (who must all themselves be fathers) on a father's love. But he insists on getting his own way, and continues to treat Benjamin as a child, though he must be at least a young adult by now. Reuben, who had tried to help Joseph, is again the generous one, and offers his own children as hostages. He asks that Benjamin be put in his care, suggesting that he is more curing than the others. By contrast, the rough Judah, who originally proposed the sale of Joseph, is now rough to his old father and delivers the ultimatum to him which finally tips the scales.

The most serious point of all, however, is the whole-hearted repentance of all the brothers. They had ridden roughshod over their father's feelings in depriving him of Joseph, but they now recognise his grief and are careful to protect him. The lack of family affection which had led to Joseph's deportation is reversed by the joyful family reunion.

Question: Is Joseph's teasing of his brothers justifiable?”

I hope that sample reflection give you a feel for this volume. It is an excellent resource and one I can easily recommend. I just wish there was an eBook edition. It was wonderful to read these reflections over the year. It is great to pick up and read over the year. I can easily recommend this volume.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Books by Henry Wansbrough OSB:

CTS Books:

36 Days & 36 Ways Daily Meditations from Advent to the Epiphany Year B

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year A

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year B

40 Days and 40 Ways Daily Meditations for Lent Year C

A Year with the Bible: 365 Daily Reflections

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: The Year of Mercy

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year A

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year B

Companion to the Sunday Gospels: Year C

Jesus: The Real Evidence