The BreadCast

O bringer of light to many nations, you who struggled on for the souls placed in your care that all might know the Christ for whom you toiled, endlessly seeking to convert obstinate hearts – may your zeal inspire missionaries this day to go forth selflessly proclaiming the Gospel to all, bearing witness to the Lord in the cross they bear in season and out of season; whether producing much fruit or being rejected, may their hearts be set on the Word and the love of God for His children. Pray especially those lands you led to Christ will turn again to the one true light.

O shepherd whom we invoke for the healing of throats, you who suffered torments for the sake of the Name and embraced death as leader of His flock – open our throats to speak of Jesus, to declare His goodness and glory, the salvation that comes only through Him. Let us not fear our persecutors nor shrink from the threats of the mighty but stand fast in the Lord's healing grace, confident that His every blessing will keep us well and on the path that leads only to Heaven. Pray all sickness flee from us this day and forever.

(2Sm.18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3; Ps.86:1-6; Mk.5:21-43) "Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer, and attend to the sound of my pleading." Today in our readings we hear of desperate pleas made to the Lord. In our gospel there are at least two "earnest appeal[s]": Jairus "fell at [the] feet" of Jesus and begged Him to heal his dying daughter; and without words the woman "who had been afflicted with a hemorrhage for a dozen years" makes her appeal by working her way through the crowd simply to "touch His clothing" and be well. The woman is healed "immediately" and hears from the Lord, "It is your faith that has cured you." Her He sends in peace, but peace and the same faith He does not find as He approaches Jairus' house after having been told his daughter is dead. There is "the noise of people wailing and crying loudly on all sides." Theirs seems to be a kind of pleading, but the Lord's answer to such prayer they reject and mock, and so must be put out of the house – only those of faith can know of healing. And so Jesus takes only Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents into the room where the child lies, for they are able to heed His teaching: "Fear is useless. What is needed is trust." And so when He reaches out His hand to the little girl and speaks to her, "Talitha koum," she indeed rises and walks about. The prayer of a true heart is always answered in the power of God. What can we say of David's "weeping and mourning for Absalom" in our first reading? Again a father cries out for his child. But here it is not an innocent "child of twelve" for whom the prayer rises up, but for a son who has rebelled against his father "with evil intent," seeking indeed to overthrow David's kingdom and put him to death. David's cry, "My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!" stands in opposition to what is expected of him as he is informed of the "good news" that his enemies have been defeated and their leader killed. But here again the king knows it has been his own sin which has led to such disruption in his house. And so it is as much for himself he cries as for the child of his loins. And though Absalom shall not be raised from the dead, perhaps the Lord hears the sorrow of David's heart and will later comfort him. "To you I call all the day," O Lord. "I am afflicted and poor," but "you, O Lord, are good and forgiving." Heal me as I cry out to you. Look upon my weeping and mourning with your kindness; raise me from the dead by your word and feed me with your Body and Blood. ******* O LORD, why do we wail at the prospect of death – why do we not trust in you? YHWH, you hear our cry, you answer our pleading and send your Son to die in our place. We have rebelled against you, we have deserved death, but Jesus dies in our stead that we might be saved from the grave. And so our amazement is complete at the love you bear for us. Have pity on us, LORD, we are afflicted; we have been tormented many years. Give us the faith to come to Jesus on our knees to find His salvation, to be healed of all our ills. He cannot but hear us as we call to Him – His heart cannot but turn to us in our need. For He carries your compassion and cannot but witness to your undying love for your poor creatures. Speak to us, dear LORD. Whisper in our ears with your sweet voice, inviting us to rise and walk with you. Let us answer to your call that we might come from death to life in you. Let us weep no more.

(Mal.3:1-4; Ps.24:7-10; Heb.2:14-18; Lk.2:22-40) "Suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek." "And He will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord." "To expiate the sins of the people" He has come – to bring us light. But to do this "He had to become like His brothers and sisters in every way"; He had to "share in blood and flesh" with us, and so share in our death, to overcome death and make us holy in the sight of God, that our lives might be like His: a true sacrifice to the Lord. Hear in our gospel how many times is stated that when "Mary and Joseph [take] Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord" this is done "just as it is written in the law of the Lord." Because it says, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord," His parents do so "in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord." They "brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to Him"; they "fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord" before returning to Galilee to raise Him. Of what significance is this in this day and age when so many place themselves above the need to be obedient to the dictates of the Church and the Holy Spirit which speaks through her. Though the Lord Himself did all according to the way it is written, so many find no necessity for themselves to go to church on Sunday, to confess their sins, to give their tithe… and on. In their minds they need no "religion" to follow. Let them learn from the Lord and His obedience, and His humility, in the place where God is found. And see what happens when this humble Child allows Himself to be brought into the temple of the Lord: light comes to His people. Simeon the prophet proclaims in joy, "My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples," and declares his readiness for death. Anna the prophetess gives thanks to God and speaks "about the child to all who [are] awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem." It is not to a street corner He comes to bring salvation; it is to the temple. There we await Him. There we find Him, in His Father's house. Finally, we must relate the pain His coming brings. Though leading to glory, for us as well as for Him, the performance of the Father's will in all things is not easy. As "a sword will pierce" the Mother's heart, so in our purgation, in our persecution as we turn from the darkness of this world to be purified for the next, there shall be suffering. But this suffering does lead to life. But our waiting shall be answered. The light is powerful that comes when we "lift up" the gates of our hearts "that the king of glory may come in," but in Him we find all our hearts need. His is a perfect sacrifice. Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, your Son has come into our midst and united Himself to us; may we be united to Him and become as your Temple. YHWH, in the purification of your Son, we are purified. By His sacrifice, our sacrifice is made acceptable to you. Thank you for presenting Him to us this day, that indeed we might be saved, that indeed as He has become flesh and blood for us, we may become as His flesh and blood and be a holy offering to you. O LORD, we must be purified if we are to come into your Temple, if we are to become as your Temple, according to your desire. And so let us be obedient to your Word, let us welcome Jesus into our hearts, that He might cleanse our troubled souls from any fear of death, that by His presence we might be refined for the kingdom of Heaven. He is our hope. He is our joy. He is our very life, O LORD; let us remain faithful to His Cross. As the sword pierces our own hearts, let us be purged of sin that with Simeon and Anna we might rejoice in the light of your presence.

(Jer.1:4-5,17-19; Ps.71:1-6,15,17; 1Cor.12:31-13:13; Lk.4:21-30) "I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." When God calls Jeremiah to prophesy "against Judah's kings and princes, against its priests and people," He tells him to "gird [his] loins" and commands: "Be not crushed on their account." For though his people "will fight against" him, they shall "not prevail over" him. The Lord makes Jeremiah "a fruitful city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass" able to stand against attacks of any in "the whole land"; He preserves His prophet's life despite any danger or threat. In our gospel Jesus is likewise protected by God from any harm His people would inflict upon Him. Here in the synagogue of Nazareth, Jesus is called to prophesy against the faithlessness of the people; and though before He spoke His harsh word of truth they had "all spoke[n] highly of Him," now "filled with fury" they drive Him "out of the town, and lead Him to the brow of the hill… to hurl Him down headlong." But the deliverance promised Jeremiah and sung of so beautifully by our psalmist is with the Lord's only Son as it had been with His prophet, and "Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away." Though they would not accept the deliverance He brings, He is delivered from them. "O my God, [you] rescue me from the hand of the wicked"; you indeed are "my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety." O Lord, "let me never be put to shame," but "in your justice rescue me, and deliver me." For you are "my rock and my fortress," "my hope" who never fails to save. May I walk through all the difficulties of this world, all the darkness of sin and temptation and suffering, with you at my side, therefore with nothing to fear. Make me strong as your prophet, as your Son, for my life is in your Hand. Brothers and sisters, soon all persecution will pass away with all the imperfect trappings of this desolate earth, and only God's love will remain. Let us be as He who "endures all things"; let us be of love. And nothing of this world shall touch us as we pass through its midst, shielded by the Word of God, guarded by His eminent love. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Speaking of God" from The Whole Whale, eighth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, blessed are the lowly ones, for they shall be with you in Heaven. YHWH, make us your lowly servants that we might be blessed as your Son, blessed to be called your children. For you look upon the lowly and the poor with mercy; those who are bowed down you raise up. Help us always to be humble before you and make our boast only in your love. Your Son has come to call the weak of this world, those who are despised for their humility, those who seem certain to be cast aside for their lack of wealth and power in this life. But to shame the wise, to break the pride of those who are rich in their own eyes, you have chosen, O LORD, to bless the meek of the land with all graces – even your kingdom you give to us. And so, what care we for the persecution we must suffer for the sake of your Name? We thirst only for your presence and so do not mourn the passing of this vain world but only that we cannot come more quickly to your side. O let our heart be clean as your only Son's, that we might look upon you, O LORD our God!

O teacher and father of the children in your care, in whose hands they were not abandoned but held in patience by Christ's love – teach us, too, to have that same patience, to have that same love for those the Lord places in our care, that anger shall be banished from our hearts and our minds, that the wisdom of Christ's sacrifice you taught and lived we too might embody, and so serve in raising the kingdom of Heaven among the children of this earth. And pray that we, too, may know the Lord's gentle word and touch upon our own souls and so grow into His likeness.

(2Sm.12:1-7,10-17; Ps.51:12-17; Mk.4:35-41) "I have sinned against the Lord." David is the man who "took the poor man's ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor." To feed his lust he has feasted on another man's wife. And he sees the injustice of this; he recognizes his guilt when his sin is exposed. But why has he done it? "As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death!" And so David, too, has need of the true King and His cross to redeem him. What does the Lord say to David as he "lie[s] on the ground clothed in sackcloth," praying for the dying child he has conceived by his sin? We know what he says to God, for we have Psalm 51 to eternally express the misery of this sinner, and all sinners. We know he cries out: "Free me from my blood guilt, O God, my saving God." But how does God respond? Is He with him? We know the Lord forgives David – Nathan tells him so – but yet "the sword shall never depart from [his] house," and he shall have his sin later exposed in broad daylight by his own son, Absalom, who lies with David's wives in the public eye. Much woe remains with David long after his fall, and really throughout the history of Judah and Israel. He is assured: "You shall not die," but though his house remain and is fulfilled in the coming of Christ, what pain must be with the king in this time. If he had called upon the Lord, as He rebukes the wind and the sea in our gospel: "Quiet! Be still!" so would God have calmed his lust upon a word from his mouth. But he "utterly spurned the Lord." How is it such a humble and obedient king could do such a thing? How is it the disciples are so "lacking in faith" at the specter of the violence of the sea? Why do they become so "terrified"? Would not we all, brothers and sisters? Have we not all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? Do we not all become awed by Him whom "the wind and the sea obey"? Yet we must come to Him. Yet we must beg His pardon. Yet we must seek the strength of His Spirit, of His Word within us. Yet we must fall to our knees before our priest and cry out to our God – "A clean heart create for me, O Lord, and a steadfast spirit renew within me." Thus we all have need of cleansing this side of heaven; we have all brought forth children unto death. ******* O LORD, let us be obedient as the wind and the sea to your command, or we shall be overwhelmed by the waves of this world. YHWH, why should we be so terrified at the wind and the waves? Why should we fear the prospect of death? Do you not hold both the sea and death in your hands, and are you not faithful in saving us when we call to you? Why are we then so lacking in faith? O LORD, we are not as you. We are weak and sinful men. How can we be strong when we look out and see the depth of our sin? How can it not overwhelm us? You are all good and we have sinned against you. You are only of love, and we are but selfish. How can we stand before you in our misery? Help us to remember how gracious you are, dear God. Help us to maintain your Spirit within us. You desire our salvation, you desire our good; help us to desire it ourselves, and to act upon that desire. O LORD, let us not go astray. Cleanse our hearts and our hands from all our guilt and let us stand strong with you. Forgive us our sin and all the effects of our sin.

(2Sm.11:1-10,13-17; Ps.51:3-7,10-11; Mk.4:26-34) "The seed sprouts and grows without his knowing how it happens." Jesus in our gospel tells us of the kingdom of God and of its gradual growth without our knowing. Seed is scattered, the Word is sown in our souls, and as we "[go] to bed and [get] up day after day," remaining in the presence of the Lord, good fruits little by little reveal themselves in our lives – till finally at the time of judgment we are gathered into the heavenly reign. Though small and humble seed, once we are sown in the Lord's grace, we "become the largest of shrubs, with branches big enough for the birds of the sky to build nests in its shade." And so this man made of dust may find life eternal in Jesus. In our first reading there is another kind of gradual growth evident: the sin of David. It is the time of year "when kings go out on campaign" with their armies, but David remains at home – and so in this sin of sloth is sown that which will grow into adultery and murder. For one evening as the king "[rises] from his siesta and stroll[s] about on the roof of the palace," he sees the beautiful Bathsheba bathing, and lets his look linger upon her. Lust having taken hold of him, he takes her to his bed and has relations with her, despite her being another man's wife. In a vain attempt to cover his sin, he recalls the husband from battle that he might go in to his wife and believe the child David has conceived is his own. But the man is more faithful to the troops in battle than David is to his position as king, and remains apart from his home. Finally, David resorts to arranging for Uriah's death in battle. O how sin has grown in the great king! From a small seed tremendous guilt is born. And now, what can the prince of the people do but seek the mercy of the Lord. In his famous psalm of repentance David begs God, "Turn away your face from my sins, and blot out all my guilt." He calls out, "Thoroughly wash me from my guilt, and of my sin cleanse me." Recognizing his plight as a member of the fallen human race: "In guilt I was born, and in sin my mother conceived me," the king shows genuine humility, and so finds the forgiveness of God – but now the sword shall be upon his house. Though there shall be peace in the time of the son he will later conceive with the wife of Uriah, it shall not remain. Only in Christ will God's blessing truly return again. Brothers and sisters, from small seeds indeed great trees come. We must be ever diligent about the seed we sow, remaining always in the light of the Lord and nourished by the Spirit. When "the time is ripe for harvest," all we have done shall be exposed; until then, let us trust in His presence alone. ******* O LORD, let us grow into your kingdom, not into sin. YHWH, let your kingdom grow among us and within us. Let not our sin grow in its place, that we shall not come unto death but new life in you. We are sinful men, O LORD. All of us fall short of your glory; all of us have done evil in your sight. But you are good and forgiving and there is no sin from which you cannot cleanse us. David your servant has been guilty of adultery and murder. He has acted out of sloth and lust and selfish pride, yet when he calls out to you, you look upon him with pity. When he acknowledges his sin before you, you forgive. What good is beyond your power to do? And in the place of our sin you plant the seed of your kingdom, LORD. Where once was but parched and fallow land, you bring fruitful growth. Though this seem impossible in our sight, you accomplish it in your will. Though we cannot see, though we do not know how, you work to raise us to your glory. Turn your face from our sins and let us dwell with you.

(2Sm.7:18-19,24-29; Ps.132:1-2,3-5,11-14,Lk.1:32; Mk.4:21-25) "If your sons keep my covenant and the decrees which I shall teach them, their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne." Yes, "the Lord has chosen Zion; He prefers her for His dwelling." His blessings are upon His Church and its people, for "the Lord swore to David a firm promise from which He will not withdraw: 'Your own offspring I will set upon your throne,'" and Jesus completes that promise by establishing the New Jerusalem in His Name. But we must exhibit the "anxious care" David has shown for the preservation and promotion of the house which is ours through this Son of David and fulfillment of God's promise. If "the eye is the lamp of the body," as Jesus has said elsewhere in the gospels (Mt.6:22), then we must say with David: "I will give my eyes no sleep, my eyelids no rest, till I find a place for the Lord." Always our light should be shining forth; always we should be looking to "make our call and election permanent" (as Peter has elsewhere stated – 2Pt.1:10) – always we must seek to serve Him, if ever we wish to dwell with Him. For as Jesus says so poignantly to the crowd today: "Is a lamp acquired to be put under a bushel basket or hidden under a bed? Is it not meant to be put on a stand?" Thus He encourages us to bring our light "out into the open," to let it shine forth for all to see. For then it shall be blessed. "Listen carefully" now to what the Lord says further: "In the measure you give you shall receive." Here is a golden rule which must be understood and practiced. For it is so that the more we share the gifts the Lord places in our hearts and at our hands, the greater these blessings grow. As we share our faith, more faithful do we become. As we speak of Him, the more do we understand of Him. In giving ourselves away for others and the sake of the kingdom, we find ourselves present in His light. And so do we grow. And so is our place in His house assured. And so we shall dwell with Him forever. Let us pray with David in our first reading, brothers and sisters: "Bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever," that what the Lord has promised each of us through the Son of David may come to light. As David simply asks the Lord to accomplish what He has graciously vowed to do – "Confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house" – let us beg the Lord to grant the same to His Church for the salvation of all souls who worship Him in truth and serve Him in strength. Alleluia. ******* O LORD, dwell in us as you have promised that we might shine your light forth. YHWH, who are we that you bless us with a place in your kingdom, that you shine your eternal light in our eyes? How can we know you, how can we even approach you, we who are but useless servants….? And yet you make us your sons. Let us cherish the blessing you give us and shine the light you provide. Your House is a house for all peoples, LORD, and all peoples you would draw into your sanctuary. The promise you made to David comes to us all through the Son you place upon his throne. Now that Jesus is with us, help us to be as generous as you and serve to extend your blessing to all men. O what a blessing it is to share your love with others! Let us not be afraid or hide your light away. All we have let us give, O LORD, for all we have is a gift from you and it is increased only when we give it to others. May all come into your presence.

O wise doctor of the Church who ate the bread of angels in your long hours of prayer and study and writing and shared with us the knowledge you gained of the sublime truth of God, shedding the light of reason upon the faith we hold so dear – teach us this day to know God that we might better love and serve Him, that we might not be blind to His presence in our midst, to the holiness to which He calls us. Pray we shall enter into His Cross, His love, His obedience; pray we, too, might have knowledge, true knowledge of His grace and the everlasting life which is ours in Him… and pray the Lord send us holy teachers to fill your shoes.