One of the top motivating factors I converted to Catholicism is I came to love how Catholics read the Bible. The Catholic approach toward the Bible, returned the poetic to me.  Returned comprehensive, context and continuity (historical context and internal continuity of message) so that it is in unity of message and meaning.  Mostly, the Catholic approach to reading Scripture returned Jesus Christ to the text (the whole of the text... Old and New Testament).  Learning all the places where Christ is prefigured through signs and literary "types" in the Old Testament looking toward fulfillment and continuity in the New Testament.  This appeals to me greatly.

Simply stated: The Catholic approach to reading the Bible returned and amplified the shocking beauty and truth to me of my favorite book, The Gospel According to John.

There is a simple, yet complex formula applied to the reading and exegesis of Scripture:  Literal & Spiritual simultaneously; with the Spiritual sense having three subsections (Allegorical, Moral, and Analogically).

Consider those concepts for a minute:  the certain beauty in Literal and Moral readings; the mysterious poetry found in complex Allegorical and Analogical passages; the epic satisfaction in putting the pieces of historical context of desert life, literal moral injunctions, theological continuity, and hidden allegories piecing types & archetypes together for a understanding of the unity and comprehensive nature of God. I love the inclusiveness; the Literal and Spiritual senses are brought to a Catholic reading of the Bible.   

Studying Catholicism prior to becoming initiated into the faith, I discovered and agreed with the self-evident logic of the teaching: 

"...the Christian faith is not a religion of the book.  Christianity is the religion of the "Word" of God, a word which is 'not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and  living.'  If the Scriptures are not to remain a dead letter, Christ, the eternal Word of the Living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, 'open [our] minds to understand the Scriptures.'" (paragraph 108 Catechism of the Catholic Church) 

For me this is best typified-- and best loved in the clear, poetic, literal, contemplative, instructive, allegorical, beautiful language and meanings-- in The Gospel of John. 

When I was in junior high school and high school, the words and discussion of the third chapter of the Gospel of John was everywhere.  Heated discussions among Christians about how literal to take the words "In reply Jesus declared,'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'"  The notation "3:16" was scribbled on the walls of bathroom stalls.  Billboards across the country simply contained the words "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  Other billboards where even more minimalist, with just the notation "John 3:16" in twenty foot high letters.  And there was the Rainbow Man, who was seen at every significant sporting event in America holding a simple John 3:16 sign.  Ultimate evangelization power (beauty and simplicity) was thought to exist in the simple notation or the concise 26 words. 

I always yearned, however, for an acknowledgement that our relationship with God was slightly more involving.  That we come to Jesus not for merely the quid pro quo of faith for heaven.  While growing up, I thought that God was more poetic, than the reductionist equation of Belief = Life(Eternal); that worshipping and trusting the Trinity was larger than our small minds and mere wants.  

I first heard part of the prologue (John 1:1-9) of the Gospel of the Beloved Disciple in high school as part of the introduction to our accomplished high school orchestra/choir performance of Handel's Messiah.  The poetic, elliptical, magnificent language of John 1:1-9 gave me hope that Christianity was a faith bigger and ennobling than ourselves.  Those lines stuck as my favorite scripture passage since 1974 (with addendum, explanation to follow).  My beloved high school debate and forensics teacher, Mr. Larry Mendes wrote the script for our The Messiah because as a Catholic he best knew the full context of the key bible passage that serves as context for Handel's work. 

As much as I loved the first ten verses, I lazily never took it upon myself to explore the entire Gospel of John; or even the full prologue (cf. John 1:1-I8).  Then one Sunday four years ago, the first reading at mass the first Sunday of Advent, I heard the entire prologue, and my life changed.  Look in the above text box, place yourself in the point of view of an uncertain but hopeful soul, and slowly read the entire prologue.  Slow down when you read verses 10-18:

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.  But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.  John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'"  And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. (Emphasis added)

I do not know if it was my special relating as father to an only son.  Or if it was the shock of hearing verses from Scripture that I thought I knew, yet being completely surprised by the transfigured truth of the Word that made the verses sound gleaming and true in a new/old way.  Either way, hearing those words hit my mind and heart as a lightening bolt of revelation and glory; truly an epiphany.  Especially: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, and glory as of the only Son from the Father.

In my mind, "And the Word became flesh..." is a uniquely emphasized Catholic section of Holy Scripture.  Whether as a mass reading annually heard during Advent, or the title of a monthly publication dedicated to Catholic mass readings and meditations on their meaning, or as part of the prayer liturgy The Angelus... the line "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" is the essence of "Catholic" scripture to me, and the particular section of the Holy Bible that was the catalyst to my wanting to become catholic; to explore the literal and figurative meanings of the phrase.  God was the Word, as the inexpressible Yahweh of the Old Covenant Jewish tradition.  He became flesh, and dwelt among us... God saw us not from a distance in heaven or the remove of a father.  He was one of us, and still loved us and our slovenly ways.  The Anointed One full of grace and truth, he died for us who more times than not are not full of grace and truth.  Let me put it another way: from my experience, contemplation and naming the Son of God is not a Protestant way of doing mental business; and increasingly I desired to believe and think and worship the Nativity of Jesus as The Word coming as a Man (but simultaneously retaining his full Divinity), and staying long enough to fully know and love us all.

This new exploration of Christ triggered me to read full parts of John.  I figured that the poetic writing style and implications of the prologue was more likely to be replicated; and John 3:16's reductionist  prose is not likely the spirit of the rest of that Gospel, or the whole of the Bible.  Starting from the prologue, I was surprised by scripture or concepts on every page.