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

Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year A

Scott Hahn

Ken Ogorek

Emmaus Road Publishing

St Paul Center

ISBN 9781645854883

eISBN 9781645854906

ASIN 

This is the third volume to release in this series; Year A, but it also completes the three years cycle. This is an incredible volume and series. This volume does not start for a few weeks from the writing of this review. But I devoured the volume over a week and a half while moving. Randomly picking it up and reading a reflection her and there throughout the day.  I can easily state this and the two companions would be excellent resources for any Catholic!

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 A.”

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

“Second Sunday of Advent

ISAIAH 11·1-10

PSALM 72:1-2. 7-8, 12-13. 17

ROMANS 15, 4-9

MATTHEW 3:1-12

Kingdom Come

“The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” John proclaims. And the Liturgy today paints us a vivid portrait of our new King and the shape of the kingdom He has come to bring.

The Lord for whom John prepares the way in today's Gospel is the righteous king prophesied in today's First Reading and Psalm. He is the king's son, the son of David a shoot from the root of Jesse, David's father (sec Ruth 4: 17).

He will be the Messiah, anointed with the Holy Spirit (sec 2 Sa1l1ucl 23: 1; 1 Kings

1:39; Psalm 2:2) and endowed with the Spirit's seven gifts: wisdom, understanding. counsel, strength, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (see Isaiah 11: 1- 2).

He will rule with justice, saving the poor from the ruthless and wicked. His rule will be not only over Israel but will extend from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. He will be a light, a signal to all nations. And they will seek Him and pay Him homage.

In Him, all the tribes of the earth will find blessing. The covenant promise to Abraham, renewed in God's oath to David (see Genesis 12:3; Psalm 89:4, 28), 'will be fulfilled in His dynasty. And His name will be blessed forever.

In Christ, God confirms His oath to Israel’s patriarchs, Paul tells us in today's Epistle. But no longer are God's promises reserved solely for the children of Abraham.

The Gentiles, too, will glorify God for His mercy. Once strangers, in Christ they will be included in "'the covenants of the promise" (see Ephesians 2: 12).

John deliver's this same message in the Gospel. Once God's chosen people were hewn from the rock of Abraham (see Isaiah 51: 1- 2). Now, God will raise up “living stones” (see l Peter 2:5) children of Abraham born not of flesh and blood but of the Spirit. 

Thisis the meaning of the fiery Baptism Christ brings: He makes us royal heirs of the kingdom of heaven, the Church.

~

John the Baptist called people to repent and told their leaders to show evidence of repentance. So, what is repentance: exactly? It is retuning to God. It's also known as conversion. You feel sorry about sins you've committed detesting them, actually and you resolve to cooperate with God’s grace better so as to avoid sin. The Baptizer points out our need constantly to turn away from sinful thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions. His call was, and is, urgent.

The movement of return to God, called conversion and

repentance, entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed,

and the firm purpose of ~inning no more in the future.

Conversion touches the past and the future and is nourished by

hope in God's mercy. (CCC 1490)

Baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit admits us to the family of faith, to the people of God. Jesus wants all people to be united with Him and with each otl1er in His Church. Unity doesn't have to mean uniformity in all things, but the call to be a united family is unmistakable, and Baptism is the means God uses to join us with all of His people.

One enters into the People of God by faith and Baptism. “All

men are called to belong to the new People of God” (LG 13), so

that, in Christ, “men may form one family and one People of

God” (AG l ). (CCC 804))

~

Do I think of co1wersion as a once-and-for-all change, or do I acknowledge it as a process needing persistent attention on my part?

Does my treatment of all Christians show that I consider them family members'? Do I treat all members of my family as I would Jesus Himself?

Jesus, You call all people to repentance as well as reconciliation with God and neighbour. Thank You for walking witl1 me on my journey of conversion, throughout

This Advent season and always. Amen.

PREPARE THE WAY of THE LORD,

MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS

ALL FLESH SHALL SEE

THE SALVATION OF GOD.

LUKE 3:4, 6”

I hope that sample reflection give you a feel for this volume. Each reflection is between four and 5 pages. Spread throughout the volume are full page prints or artwork. 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. 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! 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 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

...

Author Profile and Interview with Ken Ogorek.