When my sisters and I were still kids and we were waiting for a flight to arrive at the airport, we saw a big book that was sold in the bookstore there. When we opened it, it was a children’s version of the Bible. What attracted us to convince our parents to buy the book even if it was expensive was the beautiful illustrations. You know kids are very visual and they are attracted to colors and stories that are written in big, bold letters that could be easily understood and read. That was the first time we became interested in the Bible. We read it from the beginning till the end. We memorized each picture that was painted like the paintings of Michelangelo. They were so beautiful.
As I reached my late twenties, I began to read the Bible more often than when I used to during my younger years. And the Bible I read was not the children’s Bible anymore. There were no more pictures to depict the stories. Only numerous texts that at first sight, you wouldn’t feel like reading it. And this was the American version or the Jerusalem Bible (or the Gideon Bible. There are actually several versions). When I needed consolation, I’d open the Bible to the Book of Psalms (David’s prayer, praises and poems to God). When I needed guidance, I opened the Bible to the Book of Wisdom and the Book of Proverbs to give me direction and light in life.
The Bible is more than just a book. It is the book of all books. It is food for the soul. It consoles and it gives hope. It enlightens and guides us to do what is right.
The Bible tells the story of how much God loves us and how He cares for our well-being. If we read the Bible, we will never go astray because it is a source of wisdom and a source of hope. It brings light to those who live in darkness. And it tells us that no matter how hopeless we are because of our sins, there is always hope if we truly are repentant of the sins we have committed.
The Bible tells us what we should do in order to have everlasting life. It tells us that there is nothing impossible with God. Like the parting of the Read Sea when Moses cast his cane unto it to save the Israelites from the oppressive Egyptians. Like when Christ rose from the dead and resurrected to heaven. Like the feeding of the five thousand in spite of only five loaves of bread. Like when Christ walked on water. And many more.
It also tells us that those who are last will become first. Just be like little children – innocent and with faith (faith that is unquestioning to what God can do for us) and we shall be first in His eyes.
The parables are short stories that are found in the Bible telling us how the kingdom of God is (The Parable of the Fig Tree), how we should conduct our lives (The Parable of the Ten Virgins and the Parables of the Talents). It tells of how God punishes and rewards each one of us based on what we have done (The Parable of the Grapeyard) and how each one of us who receive the Word of God would live and practice it or just put it to waste (The Parable of the Sower).
The Bible’s Old Testament is the story of God’s chosen people, the Israelites, and how they prepared for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. The New Testament is the story of the Messiah (the Savior) Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He was sent by God for a special mission – to save mankind from sins by dying for us on the cross.
When I was a medical technology student at the UST College of Pharmacy, I always represented my college in Bible contests and Marian quizzes. My mother used to teach Theology at UST. We had a religious upbringing because of my mother’s influence.
When a good friend told me to write about my favorite book, I told her I wasn’t into reading pocketbooks. I read medical books instead. One day, while I was on my way to work, driving and praying the rosary, I suddenly remembered the Bible, truly the only choice for my favorite book.