Last year, right around this time, I wrote a post about the power of getting into a regular pattern of prayer and the value of forming helpful spiritual habits. A few years ago, also at this time of year, I discussed New Year’s resolutions and the reasons they often don’t stick. With this very much in mind, I set out this past January to listen to “The Bible in a Year” podcast with Fr. Mike Schmitz. As the name indicates, it’s a daily podcast with each episode containing sacred scripture plus a few minutes of Fr. Mike’s personal prayer and reflection. Each episode runs about 20 to 26 minutes in length. 

I’ve read (or heard) lots of readings from the bible over the course of my life, taken courses on scripture, prayed the liturgy of the hours each day, and reflected on the Sunday readings. Still though, I’ve never actually read the entire bible and that has been, to me, a missing piece, an item on my personal bucket list. 

So, I set out in 2025 to make this the year… the year I finally “read” the entire bible, cover to cover. Fr. Mike’s podcast was the way I chose to do it, knowing that I could listen, often while driving, and that I’d benefit from Fr. Mike’s commentary. I had no idea whether I’d actually stick with it or not. 

Bottom line: I did. And as of the date I’m writing this, I have less than a month to go. 

Truth be told, there have been days that I missed, but I committed to making it up on the following day. And there were times when it was a slog, a real challenge to get through the readings, particularly some from the Old Testament. But, I stayed with it. And I’m glad I did. I learned a lot. A lot!

I was able to recognize themes that became clearer and more powerful simply because I understood all the context. I picked up on patterns. I understood how the different styles from across different centuries all fit together in a cohesive manner. 

Here are some of the themes that really stood out to me.

It is a story of human struggle. We are broken and God comes to us in our brokenness, works through it, and cooperates with us to reveal truth, beauty, and the way forward.

Persistence is rewarded. We don’t always understand what is happening or why it’s happening, and God doesn’t promise us an easy life. He does, however, ask us to be faithful, to follow, to trust. This takes effort, but God rewards our persistence.

Scripture is alive. The words of the bible are meant to inform, inspire, and transform. They are unlike any other texts as it takes reflection and deeper thought to truly comprehend. And I now understand that “the bible in a year” is not a one and done endeavor; it’s meant to be ongoing and active.

God comes to us. The very act of the Incarnation tells us all we need to know about God. He desires to enter our chaos and pain, to gather us toward him, and to walk alongside of us during our journey from and then back to him.

Everything points to Jesus. Let’s just say that once you see it, you can’t unsee it!

Jesus established a Church. Reading the Acts of the Apostles and the letters to the early Christian communities has reaffirmed for me the fact that Jesus and his closest apostles were quite intentional when it came to the notions of Church and authority. It’s all right there in the pages.

There’s more. Much more. If you haven’t yet listened to “The Bible in a Year” podcast (available from all the major platforms and on several apps – just search for it), I wholeheartedly recommend it.

It’ll be a resolution worth keeping!