he ate the whole thing
"When I found Your words, I devoured them; they became my joy and the happiness of my heart, because I bore Your name, O Lord, God of hosts." —Jeremiah 15:16
Many of us find it hard to read the Bible, but the Lord wants us to eat the Bible, to consume, even devour it. "Not on bread alone is man to live but on every utterance that comes from the mouth of God" (Mt 4:4). His Word is like honey from the comb (Ps 19:11), sweet at first although later soured by persecution (Rv 10:9-10). Nonetheless, God's Word is still our joy and happiness because we bear His name (Jer 15:16).
If God's words are not that important to us, possibly we don't have a deep, personal relationship with Him. If we don't spend time reading the Bible, then how can we bear His name? For "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133).
Did you ever read an article about someone you knew personally? You probably devoured it and read it with much more enthusiasm than other articles. You would be even more interested, if you knew the author. If you have a personal relationship with the Author of the Bible, God the Father, and know the Word made flesh, Jesus, then you will read, study, eat, and devour God's Word in the Bible. Delight in the Word of the Lord and meditate on it day and night (Ps 1:2).
Prayer: Jesus, Word of God, may I feel called to kiss the Bible as a sign of my love for You and Your Word.
Promise: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant's search for fine pearls. When he found one really valuable pearl, he went back and put up for sale all that he had and bought it." —Mt 13:45-46
Praise: St. Alphonsus founded an order to save "the most abandoned souls." He preached missions for twenty-six years to help "seek and save the lost" (see Lk 19:10).
Reference: (Devour the Bible by teaching the Bible. Order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 30, 2012
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.