The BreadCast

(Is.38:1-8,21-22; Is.38:10-12,16-17; Mt.12:1-8) "Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord." "When Hezekiah was mortally ill, the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him: 'Thus says the Lord: Put your house in order, for you are about to die.'" When the Jewish race was about to perish for lack of love, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to the Pharisees and declared, "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." And if they heed not His word, they indeed shall die. But will what occurred "in those days" with the king of Judah recur with these leaders of the Jews? Will they, too, turn their face to the wall and cry out to the Lord? For there is a greater threat than "the hand of the king of Assyria" upon their race now. Here is a greater threat than death. The condemnation they cast so freely upon "innocent men" now begins to overshadow their souls. "To the gates of the netherworld I shall be consigned for the rest of my years," Hezekiah cries out; and indeed his fears shall be realized in these. For they "shall see no more the Lord in the land of the living" if they refuse to see Him here as He stands before them. They shall know no longer the mercy that sustains all life if they harden their hearts to Him who holds that mercy in His flesh and blood. The Lord seeks to open their eyes and their hearts to the power and love of God. By their own Scripture and history and law He proves their judgment wrong, asking, "Have you not read what David did when he and his men were hungry…? Have you not read in the law how the priests on temple duty can break the sabbath without incurring guilt?" But yet would they condemn King David and the temple priests, placing their own judgment over the law of the love of God. I fear for them, brothers and sisters, as for all who are obstinate of heart. For here are the chosen of God. Here are those graced with the Lord's promise. But what shall become of their blessing if they reject the Promise when He stands before them? What shall become of those who turn the grace of God to empty wind? Oh how their bones shall rot! Oh how the fears of Hezekiah shall be fulfilled! Oh that they could hear the words the Lord speaks to His repentant king: "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you." Oh that they would know the mercy of God. To Him may all come, for He who stops the sun and moves it back upon its course indeed holds all in His loving hands. The Temple of the Lord is here. ******* O LORD, you raise us up from death, from condemnation for our sins, for you are the LORD our God. YHWH, have mercy on our poor, judgmental souls, for we have come close to death because of our sins, for the lack of mercy we have shown. But you are not like us, for you have pity on those who cry out to you, on those who hunger for your food – hear us as we cry to you this day for your forgiveness upon our souls, that even this day we might live in your sight. Our sins would have cut off our life, LORD; our disobedience but brings us to the nether world. But Jesus is Son of Man and God like you and He walks amongst us as your mercy, seeking to redeem our fallen souls from the grave we have made by our transgressions. And He brings us new life. O LORD, let the days be turned back that we might make amends for our past sins, that we might have years to reform our lives and set our house in order for your Son's return. If you had not mercy upon us, we would already be dead, doomed by our disobedience. But remember us and make us faithful and wholehearted in your sight; feed us with the Bread of life.

O Mother of contemplation who heard the Word of God and kept it, pondering its wonder in your heart, you who were so faithful to His call and remain ever in His presence – how shall we know our Lord if you do not pray for us, if you do not intercede for souls so blinded by the distractions and temptations of a fallen world? Our prayers are with you, dear Mother, who pray as one with our dear Lord, who are so one with Him in body and soul, who stand at His side this day in the kingdom of Heaven… There on His holy mountain help us to make our home.

(Is.26:7-9,12,16-19; Ps.102:13-21; Mt.11:28-30) "The Lord looked down from His holy height, from heaven He beheld the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die." Yes, "we cried out in anguish under [His] chastising. As a woman about to give birth… we conceived and writhed in pain, giving birth to wind." Empty were our works; dead in sin were we. But the Lord took pity on His people. Though "oppressed by [His] punishment" and as prisoners in chains, the time arrived for Him to "arise and have mercy on Zion." And so He sent His Son. "My soul yearns for you in the night, yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you." Because even in death His faithful set their hearts on Him and make Him the "desire of [their] souls," He comes. "He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer." Though afflicted by sin, the Lord looks upon our tears; and His heart breaks with ours, and the light walks among us… and Jesus comes. And Jesus comes. Hear the words of our Lord: "Your souls will find rest." He promises us His peace. Though heavy burdened with the weight of this dark world, He is here to save us. How do we find such peace? How do we find release from the prison in which we are confined? Heed His instruction; "take [His] yoke upon your shoulders and learn from [Him]." And what is this yoke in which you will find your freedom? It is nothing else but the cross. The Lord has looked down from heaven; He has sent His Son forth from His throne. And what does He come bearing "to release those doomed to die"? Yes, it is a cross He carries. Our sins and our pain He takes upon Himself. Only through this instrument of salvation, only through the flesh of Christ fastened to the wood – only by the nails which pierce His hands and feet are we brought life. For He cries with us in anguish: He dies with us in pain. And the Lord's pity is realized, the mercy of God fulfilled… and washed are we in this blood from sin, and our cry thus taken away. And we must do the same as He. We must die, too. We must unite ourselves to His cross, and let Him take all pain from our souls. And so we shall be whole. And so the cry shall be no more. And so we shall never die. "Awake and sing, you who lie in the dust," for your "corpses shall arise." ******* O LORD, we were doomed to die but you heard our cry and sent your Son to save us by His Cross – let us share in His mercy this day. YHWH, have mercy on Zion, on your children who cry out to you in the night, in the night that is our life in this world. Regard the prayer of your poor ones; look down from your holy height and have pity on us. Send your Son to save us from our pain, from our sin, by the grace of the Cross He bears. We have given birth to wind, O LORD. In vanity we have lived our lives. But we look to you to redeem us from such emptiness, from the darkness which besets our hearts. You bring peace to us; your Son grants us the salvation we could not achieve on our own. O let us take up His gentle yoke that we might find rest for our souls. Thank you for your mercy, Jesus, for coming among us in gentleness and humility and carrying our burden of pride away. Let us come to you now, as you call us; let us find the refreshment you offer in your Cross. Upon our shoulders let us take your light burden, that we might know your judgment is removed from us in the sacrifice you have made.

O good doctor who taught the way to God by death to things outside the Cross, by resting with Christ in the tomb that we might pass from this world to the Father – pray our passions indeed be silenced that the fire of God will carry our soul to Him who is beyond the operations of our mind; pray our surrender to Him may be complete and the Holy Spirit lead us in loving flame to the kingdom. Where is the longing of our soul for God, and who will assist us on the journey? Speak to our hearts this day, good teacher, from your place in His radiant presence.

(Is.10:5-7,13-16; Ps.94:5-10,14-15; Mt.11:25-27) "Shall He who instructs nations not chastise, He who teaches men knowledge?" Again we learn the basic teaching of the Lord: The exalted are humbled and the humbled exalted. In our first reading "the Lord of hosts" promises to "send among His fat ones leanness" – condemning Assyria for the pride it takes in its "own power"; and in our gospel Jesus "offer[s] praise" to His "Father, Lord of heaven and earth," declaring, "What you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the merest children." "Judgment shall again be with justice," for the Lord shall raise those who have been "trample[d] down" even as He topples the pride of the wicked. Assyria boasts, "I am shrewd" and proclaims itself "a giant." But truly he is a fool who exalts himself above the power of the Lord and does not see that all things are done only in Him. Yes, with what wisdom Isaiah speaks when he questions: "Will the axe boast against him who hews with it?" and, could a rod "sway him who lifts it, or a staff him who is not wood"? How clearly he exposes the foolishness of the vain boasting of those who are mighty in their own eyes. And how well his lesson leads to Jesus' own. "Everything has been given over to [Jesus] by [His] Father": all power is in our Lord's hands. And when He states, "No one knows the Son but the Father, and no one knows the Father but the Son – and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal Him," what is He saying but that no one comes to the Father, no one receives any blessing of the Father's power and love, unless He humbles himself before Jesus who is the Chosen One? Nothing of God can anyone know, nothing of His power can we share – no salvation is found at all unless we come to Him as a child. "Shall He who formed the ear not hear? Or He who formed the eye not see?" Do you believe your vision greater than His own? "Understand, you senseless ones among the people; and, you fools, when will you be wise." For though these puffed-up souls "murder" "the fatherless" with their tongue, though "widow and stranger they slay" in their wicked deceit, the truth shall not escape them: justice shall indeed come. And as "the upright of heart… follow it" – follow the Lord of all to eternal glory – for those who take pride in their own power, "instead of His glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire." Know this, you who are slow to believe. ******* O LORD, let us be as your children, doing your will in all humility. YHWH, what greater knowledge can we have than to know you who know all things? Of what worth is our wisdom apart from you and your blessing? Vainly we toil upon this earth, seeking our own gain and falling into wickedness – reveal yourself to us that we might be raised from our blindness. Else we shall surely die. Trusting in our own power, what a fateful path we tread, O LORD, for then we walk further and further from you, and so further and further from true light. In darkness we can but end, putting our faith thus in creatures. But if we turn to you, our Creator, and recognize your power over us, then we shall be blessed by your love, for then we shall enter your presence. Then we shall be doing your will and sharing in your wisdom, and so finding your light. From all our wickedness let us turn, O LORD, by the grace of your chastisement, and let us be as children before you, obedient to your Word and so sharing in your life.

O wise virgin so willing to leave your people behind to wed the only One who could win your heart, the Lord Jesus Christ, you were not swayed by punishment or persecution to renounce Him whom you loved but remained humble and diligent in your chastity and poverty and penance, sleeping on thorny mats for your Bridegroom and your persecutors – pray we too will be led into the desert, into the wilderness where God speaks, that we, too, might be espoused to Him and wait patiently for His coming, when all our scarred faces will be transformed as yours by His glory. Pray every tribe and tongue and nation will come in innocence before the Lord and so be adopted as sons and daughters of the great King.

(Is.7:1-9; Ps.48:2-9; Mt.11:20-24) "Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!" "Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear; let not your courage fail." For "great is the Lord and wholly to be praised in the city of our God" and "renowned is He as a stronghold." But the faithless shall be as the rebellious nations which came against the Lord and His anointed: these "shall not stand" but "shall be crushed." Though "the kings assemble, [though] they come on together" against the "city of the great King," they shall be seized with "quaking," with "anguish, like a woman's in labor." They shall be "stunned, terrified, routed." And so Jesus proclaims His rebuke of Capernaum and the other "towns where most of His miracles had been worked." So His severe reproach echoes to all faithless hearts, hearts which have refused His mercy, who have turned from His wonders: "I assure you, it will go easier for Sodom than for you on the day of judgment." Sodom was burned with fire. There is no city greater known for sin than this profligate place which sought even the rape of the angels. And so, what shall be the fate of those who turn now from the preaching of Jesus, from His holy presence among us? What shall become indeed of the baptized who reject the grace at work in their souls? One can only shudder to think of the horrors built up by such turning away, by such "failure to reform." O Lord, how often I have turned from you; how little of your grace I have treasured in my soul. How little faith have I. And so, how I fear your mighty hand, your perfect, absolute light. Who shall stand in the purity of your love? Who can know your holiness? My heart condemns me of my sin; "in sackcloth and ashes" I come before you, seeking the strength found only in your touch. Send me not "down to the realm of death" but lift this faithless soul to your side. Let me fear no attack of the world. Enable me to stand in your light. ******* O LORD, make us your House, faithful and true, that we might find your protection and glory. YHWH, let us be your House, your holy City, faithful to you and so finding your secure protection and your blessing unto Heaven. Help us to reform our lives that we might be made entirely in your image. Great are you, O LORD, and worthy of all our praise and worship. You alone are God and to you alone should we be devoted. It is you in whom we find our hope, you who are our stronghold. With you as our God, all our enemies flee before us, for it is you who fight for us against all the evils of this world. For your miracles let us praise you, LORD; let us never be blind to your hand at work in our midst. Let us not be as ungrateful sons failing to recognize your goodness to us and the provisions you make for our inheritance. Let us rather be as your only Son, turning always to you and to the fulfillment of your will. Then we shall be like Him in your kingdom, seated with all your angels and saints around your holy throne. You alone are our King; let our enemies tremble before you.

O you who were king and emperor yet set your sights on the reign of Heaven and the reform and upbuilding of the Church on earth, who dedicated yourself to the Lord of all and service of His apostles – pray our cares and responsibilities will not distract us from remembrance of our God and His mercy but that we shall indeed dedicate these and all our lives into the hands of our Savior, that He might dispose of them and us as He sees fit. Pray our kingdom not be of this earth but of Heaven and that we shall make our home at the foot of the throne of the Almighty.

(Is.1:10-17; Ps.50:8-9,16-17,21,23; Mt.10:34-11:1) "Your hands are full of blood! Wash yourselves clean!" Elsewhere in Scripture we read, "The Lord chastises those whom He loves" (Heb.12:6), and this truth is made evident in our readings today. The Lord commands us through the prophecy of Isaiah, "Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good." Our psalm continues the same theme, declaring again in the voice of God, "You hate discipline and cast my words behind you." And the lesson is fulfilled in Jesus' own admonishment: "Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." How difficult for many to hear Jesus' words: "My mission is to spread, not peace, but division." How in conflict with their image of a pleasant Jesus placed so neatly in a politically proper box. How they would anesthetize themselves against the suffering of the cross. But the same Spirit who speaks through Isaiah, proclaiming, "Hear the word of the Lord, princes of Sodom! Listen to the instruction of our God, people of Gomorrah!" is He who speaks through the Son, who Himself condemns the towns that do not receive His preaching and presence to a worse fate than these infamous cities. Our Lord is no less offended by "worthless offerings" and "octaves with wickedness." He is no more deaf to our disobedience or blind to our sin. In fact, as He is the fulfillment of the love of God in the forgiveness and grace He offers all, so He is the fulfillment of God's justice in the ultimate judgment of every soul. "I will correct you by drawing [your sins] up before your eyes," the Lord declares through our psalmist. And does not Jesus call the Pharisees "a brood of vipers" (Mt.12:34)? Does He not call Peter "Satan" (Mt.16:23)? Does He not open all our eyes to the sin upon our souls to save us from final damnation? If He did not do this, could He say He loves us? Is it not by this cross placed firmly upon our backs that we rise from the sin weighing down our hearts? Otherwise, would we not drown in sorrow? Brothers and sisters, do not try to ration away your cross by vain supposition. They are wolves in sheep's clothing who would convince you there remains no place for the wood, for the blood. The world is ever and more a place of sin, and the devil ceases not to lead souls to perdition. Be warned by the Lord of all. Stand chastised in His love. Wash yourselves clean of all pride and vanity; be not as he who "brings himself to ruin." You are called to be the Lord's image in the world; and the Word made flesh ends His life on earth fixed to a cross. Accept His gift of love. ******* O LORD, let us be brought to nothing for you; let all the sin within us die that we might be your disciples. YHWH, let us welcome you and your Word and those who bring it to us. Though your Word is hard, it is our means of salvation, for only the Son's Cross leads to life; only your chastisement will break our hardened hearts. O let us love you above all others! We are sinful, LORD, pretending a love that is empty and false. And so, what do we merit but condemnation for our turning our hearts from you? No better than the lands of Sodom and Gomorrah, our house is full of wickedness, our hands full of blood. We do all but to please ourselves; our sacrifices are but to feed our bellies, and so are no sacrifice at all. Bring our sins up before our eyes! that we might see and turn away from them. Your sword, O LORD, your sword alone will separate us from our sinful deeds. Your Word alone will save our souls. Let us cherish your discipline as once we treasured the vain things of this world. The word of your prophets let us desire that we might receive a prophet's reward.

(Is.55:10-11; Ps.65:10-14,Lk.8:8; Rom.8:18-23; Mt.13:1-23) "The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit." Comes the Word of God. To our eyes, to our ears. A seed sown within our hearts. May it find rich soil in which to grow, that we might know "the redemption of our bodies." "The rain and the snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth… so shall [God's] word be that goes forth from [His] mouth." For indeed it makes the earth "fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats": it nourishes the expectant soul and provides seed for its increased growth. All is given life by the Word of God. What Isaiah prophesies, David sings – "You prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield." And by this grace which falls from heaven, consuming the manna which is its fruit, His children know the "bounty" of the Lord; for His "paths overflow with a rich harvest." Hardly can we contain the blessings of "the valleys blanketed with grain." Jesus has come. The Lord has "visited the land and watered it." The grace of God is in our midst in heavenly flesh and blood. And we are left dumb; for the Word of God indeed silences our tongue. What can we say as we see His fields coming to life? How can we speak of the beauty of a land bathed in light? Deeply into our souls His words do fall, and we awaken, we arise as His children of light, beginning now to understand the blessing at our fingertips, the redemption we do find in the Body and Blood of Christ. And though we "groan within ourselves," we know these are the "labor pains" of growth. For in this cleansing rain purging our hearts we come to be "set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God." What a wonderful word we have from our Lord: "Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear." What a promise He makes to those who gaze upon that which the prophets longed to possess: "To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich." And so, what confidence we who are granted "knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" should have in His grace-filled Spirit; and what fruit we should thus bear, even to life everlasting. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Listen through the Music" from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let your rain fall upon us that we might bear fruit in your Name; let us hear your Word and answer your call. YHWH, make us fertile and fruitful. Open our hearts to receive your Word; let it sink deep within us and grow by your grace. Your grace is as the rain which waters hearts set on your will. May we indeed receive your abundant gifts, O LORD, and yield a rich harvest in your Name. So blind are our eyes, dear LORD, so dull our hearts. We are deaf to your Word as we set our sights on the things of this world. The devil easily enters in and steals from us that which we neither have nor desire. But you come to us in your compassion to teach us, to open our ears to your Word that we might be as the untilled meadows, the fields no human hand has touched, which produce fruit in abundance by your grace. The first fruits of the Spirit we now have as a gift from you, LORD. Yet we await the fullness of your blessings; yet we groan in pain as still we need to grow in you. Set us free from all slavery to corruption that we might share in the glorious freedom of your children of light. May our fruit be worthy of your kingdom.