Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year B - Scott Hahn and Ken Ogorek

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year B

Scott Hahn

Ken Ogorek

Emmaus Road Publishing

St Paul Center

ISBN 9781645853480

eISBN 9781645853503

ASIN B0CLNH4FTK

Wow! This is an incredible volume. I somehow missed it when it came out last year. But this year the volume for Year C was recommended and I loved it, I read a handful and wanted to go back and get this volume. I will make sure next year I am keeping my eye out for Year A. This finishes in a 9 weeks from when it arrived. But I could not help but read it. I devoured it over a few days to get caught up. I can easily state this and the two companions would be excellent resources for any Catholic! And I plan on using them for a number of years to come.

The description of this volume states:

“As Catholics, we draw meaning and purpose from the celebration of the Mass each Sunday. But what if we could enhance our experience of the Mass with a better grasp on the readings we hear?

In Breaking the Bread, a beautiful, full-color, clothbound companion for the Sunday Mass, beloved Scripture scholar Scott Hahn reflects on the Sunday Mass readings, providing insightful context for all Catholics to better understand what we hear—and why we hear it—on any given Sunday.

This easy-to-use devotional also includes carefully selected passages from the Catechism that provide an overview of the Church’s basic doctrinal and moral teaching and challenge each of us to greater fidelity to Christ.

Breaking the Bread will help all Catholics make the most of Sunday Mass through reflections on Scripture, the Catechism, and short prayers to help one deepen their personal relationship with the living Word of God: Jesus Christ.

This edition of Breaking the Bread highlights the lectionary readings for Year B. Additional volumes for Year A and Year C are forthcoming.”

Over the last three years I have worked through volume from the Catholic Truth Society by Dom Henry Wansbrough OSB, Companion to the Sunday Gospels Year B, which are based on the Lectionary and scriptures used in England, Wales and Scotland. I was just finishing up the third volume when I was offered a review copy of the volume for Year C. And it was an easy choice to try a new volume from Scott Hahn. And this volume does not disappoint. A sample reflection is:

“Thirteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

WISDOM 1:13-15; 2:23-24

PSALM 30:2, 4, 5 6, 11, 12, 13

2 CORINTHIANS 8:7, 9, 13-15

MARK 5:21-43 (OR 5:21-24, 35B-43)

Arise

God, who formed us in His imperishable image, did not intend for us to die, we hear in today's First Reading. Death entered the world through the devil's envy and Adam and Eve's sin; as a result, we are all bound to die. But in the moving story in today's Gospel, we see Jesus liberate a little girl from the possession of death.

On one level, Mark is recounting an event that led the disciples to understand Jesus' authority and power over even the final enemy, death (see i Corinthians 15:26). On another level, however, this episode is written to strengthen our hope that we also will be raised from the dead, along with all our loved ones who sleep in Christ (see 1Corinthians15:18).

Jesus commands the girl to "Arise!"- using the same Greek word the Apostles would later use to describe Jesus' own Resurrection (see Mark 16:6). And the consoling message of today's Gospel is that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. If we believe in Him, even though we die, we will live (see John 15:25- 26).

We are called to have the same faith as the parents in the Gospel today- praying for our loved ones, trusting in Jesus' promise that even death cannot keep us apart. Notice the parents follow Him even though those in their own house tell them there is no hope and even though others ridicule Jesus' claim that the dead have only fallen asleep (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 18 ).

Already in Baptism we've been raised to new life in Christ. And the Eucharist, like the food given to the little girl today, is the pledge that He will raise us on the last day.

We should rejoice, as we sing in today's Psalm, that He has brought us up from the netherworld, the pit of death. And, as Paul exhorts in today's Epistle, we should offer our lives in thanksgiving for this gracious act, imitating Christ in our love and generosity for others.

~

If this child were not dead, it would be appropriate in our time for a priest to administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. This sacrament is certainly not to be reserved only for times when death is imminent. Acting in the Person of Christ, priests anoint the seriously ill so that, if God wills it, they may get well and live.

Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he

may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and

also when, after he has received it, the illness

worsens. (CCC 1529)

God's Son commands a little girl to arise. His healing grace allows this to occur. God does not command the impossible. Grace helps us fulfill His commandments.

What God commands he makes possible by his grace. (CCC 2082)

OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST DESTROYED

DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE TO LIGHT

THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

Cf. 2 TIMOTHY 1:10

Have I ever been ridiculed for my faith? What was my reaction? How does Jesus react in this Gospel passage? How might I become more like Him in this respect?

Have I ever been guilty of ridiculing another for her or his faith? What are the consequences of this kind of behavior? How can I be more loving toward Christians and people of other faiths? Heavenly Father, You heal me and give me new life throughout my earthly pilgrimage. Bless my family and friends, including those whose journey on earth has drawn to a close. Keep me in Your loving care until all the faithful are united in Your glorious presence forever. Amen.”

I hope that sample reflection give you a feel for this volume. Each reflection is between 3 and 5 pages. Spread throughout the volume are full page prints or artwork. Twenty-five in this volume to be specific. Also occasionally there are full page quotes to highlight specific passages on a coloured background. This is a well-made hardcover book. The cloth covers match the covers for the lectionary for that year being Green and Blue so far and I am assuming red for next year. Its compact size 5x7 inches makes it perfect for desk, prayer corner or bedside table. The pages are high quality semi glossy paper and will last for years to come. The only thing missing is a cloth bookmark to keep your place. 

I am typically an eBook guy, in part because of my dual form of dyslexia. But I plan to acquire both the physical and eBooks for this series and See myself using them year after year. 

This volume and set is one I can easily recommend. It will be a great addition to any Catholic’s prayer corner. It is a volume every home would be blessed by having a copy and reading it before attending church on Sunday. This is a great resource, I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy! It will be life changing. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books by Scott Hahn click here.

Books by Scott Hahn:
A Father Who Keeps His Promises
A Pocket Guide to Saint Paul
A Pocket Guide to the Bible
Angels and Saints: A Biblical Friendship with God's Holy Ones
Answering the New Atheism: Dismantling Dawkins's Case Against God
Catholic for a Reason
Consuming the Word: The New Testament and The Eucharist in the Early Church
Covenant and Communion
Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New Evangelization
First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the TrinityHail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God

Holy Is His Name
Hope for Hard Times
Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything and Still Does
Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God's Saving Promises

Letter and Spirit : From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy
Living the Mysteries - A Guide for Unfinished Christians
Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession
Many Are Called: Rediscovering the Glory of the Priesthood
Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace
Politicizing the Bible: The Roots of Historical Criticism and the Secularization of Scripture 1300-1700
Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith
Rome Sweet Home
Scripture Matters
Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots
Swear to God : The Promise and Power of the Sacraments
The Creed: Professing the Faith Through the Ages
The Fourth Cup
The First Society
The Kingdom of God As Liturgical Empire
The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth
Understanding "Our Father"

Mary Mother of All

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year B

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year C

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year A

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