Reading the Bible is a gift of grace. St. Jerome reminds us: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” But when we approach Scripture without the authority of the Church, without two millennia of teaching, tradition, and sacramental life to guide us, we risk falling into fear, confusion, and even despair.

In this video, I respond to a real post from social media where someone confessed that reading the Bible brought them fear instead of peace. Fear of God’s wrath. Fear of losing attachments. Fear that their best will never be enough. Maybe you’ve felt the same.

The truth is this: God’s wrath is not human rage—it is His holy love that refuses to let sin destroy us. And while it’s impossible to live like Jesus by our own willpower, God pours out His grace through the sacraments and the Holy Spirit. The Christian life isn’t about being “good enough.” It’s about surrender—allowing Christ to live in us (Galatians 2:20).

When we read Scripture with the mind of the Church, we see the bigger picture: sin exposed not to shame us but to heal us, confession as the place of freedom, and the Bible as the story of God’s relentless love fulfilled in Christ.

Have you ever wrestled with Scripture in a way that left you fearful? How did the Church—through her teachings, sacraments, or even resources like Bible in a Year—help you move from fear to freedom? Share your story in the comments. Your words may be the lifeline someone else needs.

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