The BreadCast

O brothers united in faith and in offering the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of that faith, for the sake of God's Church – pray nothing shall separate Christ's brothers one from another, but that all members of His flock and all those who lead His flock will remain ever united in His blood under the See of Peter. O pray that His Body not be divided but that it be healed, made whole by His Cross. Into His arms may we all offer our lives and so join our Lord in His kingdom.

(Ez.12:1-12; Ps.78:7,56-59,61-62; Mt.18:21-19:1) "As captives they shall go into exile." "The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone." O the woe of the "rebellious house"! How their sins eat away at their souls like hands digging holes in a wall; how they must hide their faces from the light of day and from the Lord's glorious face. Into what hell they cast themselves with no means of escape, their burden too heavy to bear. The house of Israel "turned back and were faithless like their fathers," and so the Lord "surrendered His strength into captivity, His glory into the hands of the foe." And just such a fate awaits all who are hardened by sin, who have no forgiveness in their hearts. For all owe the Lord "a huge amount" and all have "no way of paying it"; and so all deserve to be sold into slavery. Only the mercy of God preserves us from such a fate. But can a heart know mercy which shows none? Can a soul receive forgiveness if it continues in sin? Does not this house remain in exile from its God? And what shall become of the one who spurns the love of God as does the wretched servant? Shall he not be like him whom "the master handed… over to the torturers until he paid back all that he owed'? There is only woe for the soul so set in opposition to the loving will of God. There is only banishment from His sight. As the Lord "was enraged and utterly rejected Israel," His chosen children whom He had loved and blessed and forgiven so much, so all shall die in their sin who refuse to turn to Him... for there is no place for the evil with the good. From darkness let us come, brothers and sisters. Exile from the Lord let us avoid. May we, too, learn from Ezekial's sign and open our eyes to the danger upon us. On our knees let us come to our confessor, who has been instructed by his Master to forgive "seventy times seven times," and so wash ourselves clean of our rebellion – and then share the same with others. To the Lord let us return. ******* O LORD, save us from the captivity wrought by our sin; let your mercy and love work in and through us. YHWH, how shall we avoid exile from you and from your holy face? For we are a rebellious house, blind to your mercy. And if we are blind to your mercy, if we cannot hear you calling us back to you through your prophets, through the Word that comes to us by your Son, how can we find anything but condemnation and exile? Into prison we shall be cast to pay for all our sins if your Son's love we fail to recognize in our midst. It cannot but be that as we reject you, as we rouse your jealousy by our vain idols, by the false love we so desire with our faithless hearts, you cannot but reject us – do you not respect our wills, dear LORD? And if we choose not to share the mercy you offer to our barren souls, if we have not love in our hearts for others in need of that same mercy… how can that mercy be said to be ours? If we harden our hearts against you and your love, we build the prison in which we find ourselves. O LORD, release us from such hell to dwell with you and our brothers in your House.

O tireless worker for the Lord who when cut off from everything dearest to you gave yourself completely to God, you who have shown the way of the martyrdom of love, of dying entirely to self and serving our Savior in the sick and the poor, in whose guise He comes – pray our lives shall not wallow in mediocrity or sin; pray we shall have the same thirst for love as you, that by our love we may die and so overcome death to live forever in the presence of our Redeemer. Visit us this day in our weakness that our hearts, too, might be strong and our lives be laid down in the blood of the only Son.

(Ez.9:1-7,10:18-22; Ps.113:1-6; Mt.18:15-20) "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst." And so the four living creatures, the cherubim gathered beneath the feet of the Lord, "rise from the earth" and move "straight forward," the breath of the Spirit animating every beat of their wings. And so the angels called forth by the voice of God protect or destroy the inhabitants of His city, according to His command. And so Jesus can assure His disciples, "Whatever you declare bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven, and whatever you declare loosed on earth shall be held loosed in heaven." For He is in our midst. "Who is like the Lord, our God, who is enthroned on high and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?" The answer is, of course, no one. And yet the answer is everyone, everyone whom the Lord touches – everyone He ordains to do His will. For the Lord does not work in a vacuum but anoints all His chosen to serve as His hands and arms, His feet and legs... His tongue and soul on earth and in heaven. We are not left alone, but become as He is. Though "above the heavens is His glory," yet to the earth has He come down and walked amongst us, making us as His appointed angels. His work must be accomplished in us. Raise your voice unto Him, brothers and sisters; with angelic blessings we are called to dwell. For He is here in our midst, He who is above the angels' realm. So, may our hearts beat with the breath of the Spirit; may He animate our every thought and movement. May the will of the Lord be done in His Church, that all shall be prepared to receive His mark, that all will be prepared for the last Day... when the Lord passes through His "city," when He comes to save and destroy. Now let men be taught what is right and what is wrong; now let us gather in His Name. "From the rising to the setting of the sun is the name of the Lord to be praised." ******* O LORD, judgment is yours and you give it into the hands of your angels, and your Church. YHWH, you are exalted high above earth and Heaven; your glory is far beyond our human sight. And yet you look upon us here below and are in our midst. Your surpassing power you give to your angels, and to your Church. And so, saving and destroying angels go forth at your command; and so, on earth and in Heaven your apostles bind and loose. Your judgment is above any living creature, and yet in and through your creatures you dwell, giving them power to do your will. Justice is in your right hand, O LORD, and all shall be judged in accord with your mind. For you see all things from where you sit and are soiled by none of what is below your glory. Are not those who defile your temple defiled themselves, and so should they not receive your just punishment? How can they be counted among the just, who mourn over such abomination? O LORD, you are patient and kind with all but cannot live with wickedness. Let all souls turn to your glory!

O bride of Christ whose poverty matched His own, whose humility made Him known, whose love indeed approached His throne and the embrace of His holy arms – pray all souls will gaze into the mirror that is our Lord born in a manger, dead upon a Cross, risen unto Heaven. Pray we shall be driven on through the death we all must die, through His marvelous poverty, His wondrous humility, to the indescribable delights of those who remain at His side. O that we might be poor as you were poor, as He is poor for the sake of every soul, that we might come to embrace His blessed sacrifice and so know the glories of His kingdom.

(Ez.2:8-3:4; Ps.119:14,24,72,103,111,131; Mt.18:1-5,10,12-14) "How sweet to my palate are your promises, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" And is there a sweeter promise or a sweeter teaching than that which Jesus gives today in our gospel? In answer to the disciples' question, "'Who is of greatest importance in the kingdom of God?' He called a little child over and stood him in their midst and said ... 'Whoever makes himself lowly, becoming like this child, is of greatest importance in that heavenly reign.'" And He goes on to assure them that none of His children is forgotten by the Father – each He searches out diligently. Always they shall behold the absolute sweetness of His countenance... forever they shall look on His presence. O to be as that innocent child in the Lord Jesus' arms! "Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors." O Lord, "I gasp with open mouth in my yearning for your commands." Let us be as your prophet Ezekial, to whom you bring the written scroll and command, "Open your mouth and eat what I shall give you." Let us "eat what is before [us]"; let us "eat this scroll." Let us consume your words and commands and "feed [our] belly and fill [our] stomach" with your teaching and your promises. For all your words are "sweet as honey in [the] mouth." All that comes from you is grace and peace and joy. And though the words may be sour in our stomach, though we may have to declare "lamentation and wailing and woe!" to those who turn from your law – though suffering may indeed follow in accomplishing your will, yet the sweet knowledge that all comes from your hand shall sustain us; we shall never forget your blessing. Nothing is sweeter, nothing is more wonderful, than fulfilling the word of God in our lives. Nothing is greater than coming to His table to eat. And now this Word made flesh is in our midst, and of its sweetness we daily partake. Of His presence we cannot receive enough; to His love there are no bounds. And children before Him we constantly become as we ever consume His promises, listening to His Word and eating and drinking His Body and Blood. And so, let us rejoice as we receive from the "hand stretched out to [us]." ******* O LORD, fulfill your promise, we pray, and let all your children enter your reign. YHWH, how sweet to my taste are your commands, are your words to our souls, for they are life to us – you save us by your prophecy. You would have us be as humble as you, LORD, and so you call us to be as children. O let our eyes and our mouths open wide to receive the glorious food you offer, and in faith we shall come into your kingdom. And if it should cause us pain to speak in your NAME, to live our lives according to your Son's example – to follow in the way of the Cross, LORD – of what concern should this be to us? If we must proclaim your message of lamentation and wailing and woe that others might be saved from straying and be gathered into your fold, this too should be sweet to us; indeed, we should gasp with open mouth to aid the salvation of your little ones. Then our own salvation will be assured. O LORD, let us be your disciples; let us share in your Son's Cross, in the Word He is and shares with us… O let your will be done and let all enter your presence!

O generous soul, you gave your life freely to the poor and your death completely to the Lord; a grain of wheat fallen to the earth, you have indeed produced much fruit, so closely have you followed Christ – pray for us miserable souls who cannot seem to draw near your thorough sacrifice, made without fear of the fire ignited by your torturers, made in joy of uniting your death to Jesus' own. How shall we approach your love, your blood so closely mingled with that of our crucified Lord; how shall we match your generosity in serving His blessed call? Pray we will find the courage to give everything over to God and know we are in His arms.

(2Cor.9:6-10; Ps.112:1-2,5-9; Jn.12:24-26) "The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance." The servant of the Lord lays down his life in His name. Today we celebrate St. Lawrence, deacon, servant, and martyr, who gave his life and his death generously to God. His life must be that of every Christian; his witness is one we are called to follow. "The man who hates his life in this world preserves it to life eternal," the Lord tells His disciples in today's gospel. As "the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies," so must we if we are to produce "much fruit." We cannot hold on to our lives and our pride but must give them over in service of God, or they will be nothing worth. We must trust in the words of Paul that "God can multiply His favors" among us, that as much as we give generously of ourselves, the more He will provide; and the greater will thus be our reward as we draw ever closer to Him and His sacrifice. "Where I am, there will my servant be." By these words Jesus both calls and assures all who would follow Him that the laying down of their lives will bring them "honor" in the presence of the Father. To be so "exalted in glory," we must be washed in His blood. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church; it is by their sacrifice, their total giving of themselves, that the Church does grow. They bear witness to God's power working in the world, and we must sow bountifully with them in order to "reap bountifully" the graces of the Lord. He provides the seed we sow and will "multiply the seed" and its yield; as long as we remain "firm, trusting in the Lord," our posterity shall endure unto heaven. So let us plant our prayers and our works and our lives in the fertile earth where the martyrs found their joy, and whether we live or die, we "shall be blessed in His holy presence." May all the Church ring out their praises to the God who calls and blesses us with the holy example of those who serve Him and give their lives completely to Him. "Lavishly He gives to the poor; His generosity shall endure forever," so let us pray that this blessed yield the Lord provides will be increased in our own time, and that we may join in the grace of such sacrifice. In His Spirit and in His blood may we ever grow away from the earth and the death it holds and unto the life of "everlasting remembrance" in heaven with God. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, if we serve you, we will be where Jesus has been – fixed to a cross – and so, blessed will we be as He accepts our sacrifice, for we will come to where He is now in Heaven. YHWH, the seed and its yield are both in your hand, and you give freely to all of your abundance. Help us to be generous as you, trusting that you will always multiply and increase our yield, trusting that all we are and all we do are in your holy hand. O LORD, let us unite ourselves with the Cross of your Son, let us plant our souls in His blessed death, that we might bear much fruit and endure unto eternal life. Let us be so blessed to be His servants, to follow in His way, to be joined to His holy sacrifice. Then we shall be honored with all your saints, with all who lay down their lives in your Name. What is it to hate our lives in this world but to see ourselves as we are, small and insignificant as a grain of wheat? Yet giving what little we have cheerfully to you and to others, our yield becomes abundant, dear God.

O sacrificial victim seeking to bring peace to a dark world, you found your wisdom in love, in the love of Christ and in His Cross, and died three times for His sake: once in entering His Church, once in taking His habit, and once in laying down your life at the hands of the enemies of His peace – pray, O blessed teacher and sister to all men, that the death of this life be something we shall not fear but embrace with the same grace with which the Lord blessed you. Why should we hold to the things of the earth when Jesus waits to embrace us in His loving arms and carry us unto Heaven? Pray we shall be ready to answer His call.

(1Kgs.19:9a,11-13a; Ps.85:8-14; Rm.9:1-5; Mt.14:22-33) "When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance to the cave." For the Lord was in the "tiny whispering sound." God speaks in silence. His Word sinks deeply into our souls, piercing the spirit within us, and so what can we be but afraid? His still, small voice brings us into His awesome presence. Brothers and sisters, it is the same NAME of God revealed to Moses the lawgiver that is spoken to Elijah the prophet here on the same "mountain of God, Horeb." This WORD, this NAME (YHWH), invokes fear, for it silences the tongue, stilling all distraction we might make, and so allows the purity of God to pass into us. What but fear, what but holy wonder, can penetrate our very bones when we become thus surrounded by His presence, when He penetrates the core of our being? "The Lord will be passing by" is the promise made to Elijah; and in the silent WORD the Lord's promise is kept. And is it not this same WORD in which Jesus rested when "He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray"? Is it not this same WORD the Lord brought to Peter and the apostles when He "came toward them walking on the sea" as their boat "was being tossed about by the waves"? As He stepped into the boat with His blessed Rock, is it not so that "the wind died down"? My brothers and sisters, Jesus is this WORD spoken to Elijah, this NAME given Moses, made flesh in our midst. And in His presence "the strong and heavy wind," "the earthquake," and "the fire" become as nothing, as all distractions cease and we find ourselves at the feet of "the Son of God." Upon coming from this mountain Moses led his people out of Egypt. Upon coming from this mountain Elijah will anoint a king and a prophet to succeed him. Upon coming from the silence of the mountain Jesus – as He did before in calling His twelve apostles – comes to confirm the call upon Peter and his brothers even as He sees that His mission must increase with the death of John the Baptist. From the silent WORD all is spoken. It is His NAME for which we must listen, that we might "speak the truth in Christ." "Near indeed is His salvation to those who fear Him, glory dwelling in our land." And so, let us "hear what God proclaims; the Lord – for He proclaims peace," and in His peace alone will we discover our true and lasting home. (Fear not the troubling of your soul; He breathes a light calm upon the waters.) Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "WH" from Breath, the Apple Rises, fifth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, our hope is in you; may we patiently await the coming of your kingdom. YHWH, how we hope for your kindness to deliver us from death, to save us from our adversaries, even from our very selves. We place all our trust in you – O may our faith soon be rewarded! If we but had the faith of Abraham, dear LORD, blessed as he would we be, with no fear for the impending darkness, with hearts set solely on your coming light. The salvation of the just let us await with steadfast hearts, knowing well that you are faithful to all your promises and that you have promised a heavenly dwelling to all who seek their place with you. To this earth let us not be attached; all of this world let us offer freely to you. You are our only treasure, dear God – you are all that is worthy of our concern. And so, let us await your Son's return with loins girded and lamps burning. Let us be ever vigilant for His coming, serving well your holy will all our days, and our inheritance we shall find in you.