Scripture Versus Real Life
By: Mark Henger, Brother Raphael

As a Monk I have to read and study the bible every day and occasionally my Abbot will assign me projects that may be based on scripture.
This may shock some people, I only really quote two scriptures and I very rarely quote a Commandment.
The reason, as I’ve said in different articles, is my Dad, my Hero, was my first teacher of religion. He told me that these two scriptures cover everything in the New Testament and the Commandments.

Here they are:
Mark 12:30 (KJV) and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Mark 12:31 (KJV) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Am I right? I don’t know. God has given us the choice of free will and my free will is I will try to live my life with just two beliefs.
I have had many discussions with Priests, Deacons, Monks, Nuns even Rabbi’s. They will quote a scripture to me and my answer is always the same, “I try to love God with all my mind, body and soul. And I try love and treat my neighbor as I want to be loved and treated.” To me those two scriptures cover everything. Needless to say, not many agree with me. And that’s okay.
Some scripture is easy to understand. Some are more difficult, and people can interpret the scripture differently. I have read certain scripture 100’s of times and still don’t understand it. Before reading anything from the Bible I say this prayer. “God if you want me to understand and use what I am about to read help me to understand it.” Reading and interpreting scripture is a very personal experience. You can choose to do it alone or with others. I do enjoy reading the Bible. At times it is very relaxing and spiritually moving for me. And at other times frustrating, as I said before, some scripture I just don’t understand. 
For me I look upon the Old Testament for mostly history and the foundation of my faith. I am moved spiritually more by the New Testament. But again, this is how I look upon scripture. You may not agree. The point is to 

read the Bible and let God guide the spirit in you.