The BreadCast

O humble and joyful Shepherdof loving Mother Church who desired so to bring her balm of mercy to a confused and bitter world, that it might become more fully human by imbibing of the fountain of her life-giving doctrine and so discover the love and peace it so desperately seeks in vain ideologies that pass like mist in the light of the Lord Jesus Christ – pray we all find our dignity in Christ and in the Church He founded for our salvation; pray the eternal Truth She teaches in His Name will not be obscured by Satan's wiles but take root in the soil of Christian love and be welcomed by all souls who desire to possess a smile of joy in the presence of God.

(Is.25:6-10; Ps.23:1-6; Phil.4:12-14,19-20; Mt.22:1-14) "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines." "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son." It may be equated with "juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines," with "calves and fatted cattle ready to be eaten." A great banquet is the kingdom of heaven! But, of course, though we speak here of food and eating, we know that it is not this we should thus seek on this earth, for these things are but of the earth and are only used to help us understand the heavenly fruits which are ours in the kingdom of God. Paul makes this clear in his attitude toward food and the provisions that are of this world: "In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need," and it truly matters not to him whether he is rich or poor in material things; all that matters is that we "can do all things in Him who strengthens" us – all that matter are the "glorious riches in Jesus Christ." Food and feasting are but metaphors for the things that in this world are unseen. However, it is so that "the feast is ready" even here on this earth. It is true that the Lord "spread[s] the table before" us even in this world, even "in the sight of [our] foes." He does not leave us poor humans alone without real food to strengthen us for our journey. But this food is spiritual fare; His Body and Blood are not juicy and rich to our taste, to our bellies, but to our souls. This food nourishes the Spirit He has planted within us, and helps it ever to grow. Though real as our own flesh and our own blood, yet it truly is of heaven, and lends the glory of God to this bone of His bone. "God will fully supply whatever you need," brothers and sisters; have no fear of being in want and no anxiety to build up abundance on this earth. He indeed is beside you always, giving your soul blessed "repose." Make it your aim to "dwell in the house of the Lord." Then "on that day" He reveals His kingdom, you will "rejoice and be glad," saying, "Behold, our God, to whom we looked to save us!" Then you will enter His presence forever. Prepare your soul for the wedding feast of heaven. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "The Readiness Is All" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, prepare us well to come into your House, to enter into eternal life with you, our God and Savior. YHWH, you spread the table before us, a feast of your kingdom. Rich food and choice wines are ours even this day in the Body and Blood of your Son. Let us offer you due praise and thanks for all your provisions for our journey to you. And when we come finally into your kingdom, LORD, where death has been destroyed and we stand in the light of your presence, our hearts shall leap up in absolute joy… and we shall remain with you forever. But let our wedding garment be prepared this day. O LORD, let us find the purity we need to stand in your presence and rejoice in your glory. For yet our hearts are not set wholly on you – forgive our continual rejection of your grace. You are at our side, dear LORD; you bless and guide us as we walk this dark earth. Help us to cling to you in trust and faith, and our place beside you will be assured. Glory to you, O LORD!

(Gal.3:22-29; Ps.105:2-8; Lk.11:27-28) "Each of you is a son of God because of your faith in Christ Jesus." Praise God! "Glory in His holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!" For He has come among us. Born of the womb of Israel, the Messiah is in our midst. And so we should "sing to Him, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds." For now by faith in Him we live, and are truly blest. Brothers and sisters, "before faith came we were under the restraint of the law… the law was our monitor until Christ came to bring about our justification through faith." Under the law we lived in sin, for who could fulfill all the demands of the law? "But now that faith is here, we are no longer in the monitor's charge." We have found One who has fulfilled the demands of the law, and who is perfect in the eyes of God; and He makes us as Himself, as sons of the living God! And so what can we do but rejoice. We "who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have clothed [our]selves with Him." And so we stand naked to the world no more. And so we hide no longer from the sight of God, for our sin before Him has been taken away, and with it the law. Listen attentively to the preaching of Paul, that "there does not exist among [us] Jew or Greek," that it is faith in the Lord that saves us all. It is the same lesson Jesus teaches in our gospel today. For "the womb that bore you" refers to Israel; it is the breasts of the Chosen that have given Him suck, that have nourished Him well – it is of them He comes. But not for this is the people blest; we cannot boast of our heritage. Rather, we shall be judged worthy of blessing only by how well we "hear the word of God and keep it," as our Blessed Mother has done in preeminent fashion. She, as Paul, does not boast in her Jewish upbringing. She knows that it is not even for her great work of bearing the Son of God that she found favor with Him. Rather, all favor, the highest favor and grace, comes to her for the love she bears Him and the service she performs eternally in His Name… for her absolute faith. We must "seek to serve Him constantly" as does our Blessed Mother, as does our Mother, the Church, in faith. Then truly we shall be "descendants of Abraham, His servants, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!" And we shall rejoice to see His Day. ******* O LORD, may we hear your Word and keep it in faith, like Abraham, like Mary, that we might inherit eternal life in Jesus your Son. YHWH, because of our faith in your Son, we become as your children, indeed, as He is before you. You bless all who come to you through Jesus, all who do your will. And what should we do but rejoice for such grace, for this wonder you perform in our midst. It is Israel that bore your Son; at Mary's breast He did suck. But it is not for this the nation is blessed, nor she who carried Him in her womb. It is your people's obedience you seek, and so any may become as your Chosen by listening to your Word and keeping it in their hearts. As Mary let us be, LORD, giving you our lives. All of faith are descendants of Abraham. All are blessed who are baptized in Christ. He it is who justifies us in your sight, LORD, and makes us sons of the Most High. Glory to you for the grace upon our souls in Jesus' Name.

O caretaker of souls who sought so diligently and with wisdom and love to reform the Church and all her members, beginning with those in higher office, and so were persecuted by men who would not be healed of their disease – pray that all will be taught the true doctrine of the faith, from early childhood to adult vocation; may all know to what they are called as Christians in this world. And may that Word go forth to the ends of the earth, that the faith will be propagated in all lands and in all hearts and the Lord's holy discipline serve as treasured guide for all who would come to the kingdom of Heaven.

O shepherd of a faithful people, you shed your blood with your brothers as a holy offering unto the Lord after drawing many souls into His fold; beheaded for your success as Christ's evangelist, still you lead faithful souls to God – pray we shall be so ready to lay down our own lives for the propagation of the Word of God, and that on our journey we shall be protected from all the snares of the devil, that nothing shall prevent our standing at Jesus' side both in this world and the next.

(Gal.3:7-14; Ps.111:1-6; Lk.11:15-26) "All who believe are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." But those who do not believe cannot be called "sons of Abraham," in whom "all nations shall be blessed," for they have not the faith of the father of many nations. For those who do not proclaim the Lord's "renown for His wondrous deeds," but rather say of His "gracious and merciful" acts: "It is by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that He casts out devils," there is only a curse. They curse themselves and scatter their own salvation to the winds by the evil thoughts of their hearts. "The reign of God is upon" them, and they say it has come from hell. Have such as these faith? Have they even eyes in their head? Then how shall they be saved? How shall they be called Abraham's children? Rather, the devils will return to them "to find [their] house swept and tidied," prepared by the emptiness of their hypocrisy for these to take up eternal residence there. "He has given food to those who fear Him… He has made known to His people the power of His works." All those of faith see that this is the Messiah and "give thanks to the Lord with all [their] heart in the company and assembly of the just." All these are blessed. They live in a house guarded by "a strong man fully armed," and their "possessions go undisturbed." For the devil cannot break into the house of God, and he has no key to enter; but the Lord breaks down the doors of the evil one and all his weapons are removed from his hands. And so we are free… We are free because the Lord has redeemed us, and in His house we are protected from sin. Brothers and sisters, the Savior has been "hanged on a tree… that through Christ Jesus the blessing bestowed on Abraham might descend on the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, thereby making it possible for us to receive the promised Spirit through faith." This faith itself is redemptive. In this faith is the blood of Christ. It is this blood which fills our hearts and makes room there for the Holy Spirit to come in. There no devils can enter, for our doorposts have been anointed by Him. And so, what can such souls dwelling in this house of faith do but sing out with our psalmist, "Great are the works of the Lord, exquisite in all their delights"? What can we do but declare His "majesty and glory" as we see that "His justice endures forever" and His justice is founded in love? For by our faith He has made us whole; we who once grumbled against Him are now sons of Abraham. He has taken all our sin away, and it shall not return again. ******* O LORD, your power is only for good; let your Spirit be with us this day through faith, that we might be saved. YHWH, if we have not faith, we have nothing but emptiness, and thus make a place for the devils to dwell. But if we have faith in you, your Spirit fills us, and into your house we do come. Make us temples of your Holy Spirit! Your Son has died, O LORD, that we might have life, that we might be set free from the course sin has wrought upon our souls and enter into your kingdom as your blessed children. Why should we not believe in your love for us? Why do we doubt the salvation you provide through your Son? Let us rather rejoice in your glory, LORD, in your goodness to us. Let us sing your praise with all the strength of our souls, thanking you with all our hearts in the assembly of your holy ones, among your saints in Heaven. To such glory you do call us, away from the darkness of this place… Let us but have faith in you and we shall be as your sons.

(Gal.3:1-5; Lk.1:69-75; Lk.11:5-13) "I can't get up to look after your needs." Does Jesus ever speak these words to us? Does He ever deny our petitions, failing to bring them to His heavenly Father? Do we ever find ourselves empty-handed when we come to Him "in the middle of the night"? Does He ever tire of serving us, of saving us from our sins? Then neither should we turn our back on our brother's needs; neither should we fail to hear his cry and give him food. Brothers and sisters, is it not "you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was displayed upon the cross?" Have you not seen for yourselves the miracle in which we have found "salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all our foes"? And so should you not "serve Him devoutly and through all [your] days be holy in His sight"? If we do this, if we wake in the night to answer the needs of those who call, if we make ourselves available always as does the Lord, then even as we rise from rest Jesus will be with us – in this very action we will know His salvation present in our hearts. For as we lay down our lives, as we die with Him in service of others, the light of His resurrection already becomes present to our eyes. Though the burden is made light by the Lord, this way is not easy – but we should not tire of imitating Him. Does Paul tire of teaching and preaching the faith, of correcting his wayward children who seem so foolishly to stray? Just as the heavenly Father would never give His son "a snake if he asks for a fish, or hand him a scorpion if he asks for an egg," so the Apostle, too, knows the needs of his flock and works constantly to feed them with the Word of God. Though it weary him no end, yet he ever pours himself out as a libation for their sakes. He is ready for heaven, ready to die and unite with God, yet he gets up in the night, yet he remains present to his children, to provide the food that is due them. And we must be the same as this Apostle. A great assurance the Lord gives us: "Whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever knocks, is admitted." If we "have faith in what [we] heard," we shall indeed find "that God lavishes the Spirit on [us] and works wonders in [our] midst." For He is faithful and forgets not His promise to us. Yes, "He has raised a horn of saving strength for us in the house of David His servant," and our Savior is ever present to answer all our needs. But who shall carry out His Word? Who shall know the cross of Christ and its redeeming grace in their own flesh? Who shall serve Him and be thus as His children? Those who rise to look after others' needs, they shall be bone of His bone. ******* O LORD, you give your Spirit to those who have faith in you, to those who call upon your NAME – hear our prayer this day. YHWH, give us this day the Holy Spirit to be with us and guide us to the salvation wrought by your Son, Jesus Christ. Leave us not alone on this plane, hungry and apart from you. Help us to pray, to knock upon your door with faith, knowing it is your good pleasure to answer our needs. Then we shall serve you devoutly all our days and be holy in your sight forever. If your Spirit is with us, LORD, there is nothing else we need, for then you, too, are with us with your only Son. And we will be founded firmly in your Church, safe from all our enemies and nourished by your Bread. We are not able to give good things or do good works on our own, dear LORD. We need your help and guidance; we need the Spirit that comes from you to bless us with your abundance. We shall wither quickly and die without your assistance – come to us this day with your Spirit that we might be your children.

O Mother of prayer and of this prayer in which we meditate on the life of our Lord and Savior through your blessed intercession, it is through you we gain victory in Christ; His life, death, and resurrection become fruitful in you, and united with you, and so with Jesus, we repel our enemies. O dear Lady, our saving Lord comes not to us except through you: He is born in you, He dies with you at His side, and He raises you to life but to draw us all unto Himself, that we might walk in light with Him even in this world – pray, yes, pray for us! you through whom all Christians come.

(Gal.2:1-2,7-14; Ps.117:1-2,Mk.16:15; Lk.11:1-4) "He who worked through Peter as His apostle among the Jews had been at work in me for the Gentiles." And that same Spirit, that same God, that same Lord and Creator is at work in all His holy apostles, and is the Father of all who call upon His Name. "Father, hallowed be your name." You are great and you are glorious, and you bless all your children, your children of light. From every nation you call us by the power of your Word. You send out apostles as you sent out Paul, to the ends of the earth. You gather all your children together at your one table to feast upon your Body and your Blood, and you speak to the heart of all creation. We your people you call to pray; your disciples you teach to call upon your Name. To the depths of our souls you breathe your Spirit, and so you make us your own. Like you we would be, O Lord! Like you, dear Jesus, in your devotion to our Father. Help us, O Lord; teach us to forgive, teach us to love. Teach us not to draw away from others, but to join with all who heed your call. Let us always be "straightforward about the truth of the Gospel," always breathe it and speak it with all our lives – with all our strength let us love and welcome all, especially the poor. And let us present ourselves to your "recognized pillars," to the leaders of your Church. Let us not go off on our own, with our own thoughts, pursuing our own goals, but let us be ever obedient unto those in whose hands you have placed your teaching ministry… let us lay down our lives "for their scrutiny" as has even the Apostle Paul. For none can work without your approval, without the blessing that comes in "the handclasp of fellowship" your Church extends. And so, in your Church, under its guidance, and in absolute love of all, what shall we then lack? "Praise the Lord, all you nations, glorify Him, all you peoples!" For the Lord comes to you now – He teaches you His sacred way to the Father of all. Heed but His Word; speak and do but His work. Love always Him and all His people and you shall know how wonderfully "the fidelity of the Lord endures forever"; His children you shall indeed become, and He shall work through you as He has Peter, as He has Paul… as He has His only Son. Say amen to His Spirit. Amen. ******* O LORD, you are our one Father and we are your one children in Jesus your Son – let your kingdom come. YHWH, make us your faithful and holy children, honoring always your blessed NAME and doing always your will. Let your kingdom come through us; let your Word go forth to the ends of the earth. Obedient to the authority of your Church let us ever be. Let us never turn from you, LORD, by veering from the path of the apostles. In union may your whole people stand, in the truth your Spirit speaks. Yes, let us be one in the true faith, LORD, in your will and in your way. Forgive us all our sins and give us the grace to forgive all who sin against us, that we might partake of your food together at the table you set for us. This world is a place of trial, we know, LORD, but you save us from all trial by your presence in our midst. Let us never be separated from you or one another but ever set our hearts on serving you by bringing your Word to all our brothers.

O crown of contemplation whom none excels in solitude, in knowing the presence of the Lord alone in a cell, apart from the world – a simple chapel pray we find in the chambers of our heart that we might chant His praises all the time in the quiet, in His sight. Let us ever work to discover His breathing in our souls, that one with Him and with our brothers ever we might remain. Obedience is all we need and He will lead us there; then no questions will persist as we dwell in perfect peace. Pray such grace upon all souls.