In a year of trail by evil, came a year of growth in things which could only be sent by God. For this I am extremely thankful today, even if in getting here required quite a bit of blind faith and dry spiritual moments. I learned along the way, this is exactly what the Lord planned out for all of us at the dawn of time. To learn this again I had to actually get to know THE SOURCE of God’s plan.

Ninety-Nine days into the year I heard about and clicked on “Bible in a Year with Father Mike Schimtz featuring Jeff Cavins (The Bible in a Year Archives - Ascension Press Media). This is a podcast, and is timed to match perfectly to the average American’s 21 minute commute to work (ok mine is longer but I can do this and a Rosary). Prior to this year I read big chunks of the Bible, but not the whole Bible in a guided tour. Jeff Cavins, a former Protestant minister and Catholic Revert. arranged this so the lessons and timelines just flow naturally.

It just so happened I rolled into Kings, and the story of David and his clan. From humble beginnings, to soaring heights, and crushing catastrophes of their own sinful makings these Kins taught me to see the world around us in a new light. Then we rolled through the rest of the Bible and it all just clicked into place. As the year progressed I could see how the Old Testament is fulfilled in the New Testament, and how as the young church spread it too faced persecution like we have today from a state fearful of God’s saving graces.

I’d read or heard many of the stories before, but the blessing of being lead by a Catholic Priest willing to discuss the hard truths of the faith was just what I needed. Frankly, Father Schimtz reminds me of a Catholic Priest version of Mike Rowe. Cavin’s deep knowledge of the Bible and the Promised Land guide the reader into understanding the land and culture the people at the time of the Bible’s writing and original unfolding. It is reminiscent of Scott Hahn’s approach, if you’re a fan of his like me, you’ll feel right at home.

In the story of son’s and daughters I could see our world’s struggles today are merely repeated pains caused by our fallen nature. I could also appreciate the words of a Baptist believer friend of mine who said “I believe in God because the Bible has over 70 authors spread out over five thousand years and is the most consistent document written.” The Bible came our of oral tradition, so the audio version of the book actually ties you into its history in ways a typefaced read does not.

From all these lessons, I received one great gift this advent on a Saturday morning at Adoration as I detoured home from an overnight shift. As I looked at Jesus in the Eucharist, my mind filled the church with saints saying mass and the people offering up their prayers and suffering in solidarity. I could see the catacombs, great churches, and field masses on jeeps in battlefields. I could feel the presence of the Old Testament saints coming to mass, their previous offerings pious but still, drawn to the spiritual delights of Christ in the Eucharist in heaven.

This moment humbled me, and left me feeling a yearning to be with all those visions of people who truly believed and offered up their lives to God, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then I realized, the Eucharist is the greatest time capsule in history. A real life science fiction moment of singularity for the entire physical universe, in all times, and into the spiritual realm of heaven residing in one tiny piece of Christ’s heart sitting there before me. It calls each of us to go through the trials of fire here on earth, to be with him forever.

The most important lesson of the year, is the one I’ve known about and tried to follow my whole life. The Bible sets the law, reminds me of my strengths, counsels me through failures, offers salvation if I confess and do the works of repentance, and finally shows me the one point in the physical world where it all comes together for all eternity. So I share this lesson with you, and pray you’ll use whatever tool you need to for completing the mission of: “Know, serve and love God with all your heart, mind and soul to one day be with him in Heaven.”

Servant of God Emil J. Kapaun…Pray for us in the fight to come. (Father Emil J. Kapaun | Official Home Page (frkapaun.org))

-ehw