The BreadCast

(Mal.3:1-4,23-24; Ps.25:4-5,8-10,14,Lk.21:28; Lk.1:57-66) "His name is John." Yes, "the hand of the Lord [was] upon him," whose name signifies the grace of God, who comes at the end of the age to turn men's hearts back to God, who prepares the way we must walk to find the instruction and purgation of the Lord. We must be purified by "the refiner's fire." We must be purged of all dross "like gold or like silver that [we] may offer due sacrifice to the Lord," that we might be called children of the One God. The Day is coming; the Lord is returning to the temple, and we must be prepared to welcome Him – and so John is born, sent in the spirit of Elijah the prophet to cry out the way in the wilderness of this world. By the Spirit of the Lord, he "shows sinners the way; he guides the humble to justice," leading them to the Son who stands ready in Truth to teach and to save. Well do the people do to wonder at the birth of this holy child, for well will they do to follow his exhortation, and come to praise of the living God. This John leads us to something new, as even the originality of his name among his relatives signifies; he assists us in making the turn, the conversion to the New Covenant in the blood of Christ. From the Old and as a prophet of old, he leads us to the dawn of new light in this world. Jesus he comes to proclaim. Without this grace of God to be washed in the river of our sins, how could we stand on "the great and terrible day" of the Lord's coming? How could we bear His light, His fire? "All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy toward those who keep His covenant and His decrees." Praise God we have the instruction of the Lord with us now to guide us to life everlasting; and thank God we have been made ready by "the messenger of the covenant" to stand in the light of that wisdom. The Lord teaches us now, brothers and sisters; the Lord is with us to instruct us in His way and, "like the fuller's lye," to make us white. Let us not make the grace of forgiveness John has wrought by the hand of God among us come to naught – let us listen closely now to the Word of God to which his voice has led us. P.S. Re the Bible, the Word of God – a quote by St. Hippolytus from today's Office: "Sacred Scripture is God's gift to us and it should be understood in the way He intends: we should not do violence to it by interpreting it according to our own preconceived ideas." ******* O LORD, you brought John to birth to prepare the way of your only Son – let us walk that path to you. YHWH, your hand was upon John for our good, to prepare the way for your Son, that we might be prepared to receive the glory of His presence among us. This day may our hearts be ready for His coming. Sinners you show the way, O LORD; you mark out the path we all should tread if we wish to be cleansed of all evil and turn our hearts to you. You are our Father, and all we should desire is to love you – O LORD, lead us in the way to you. Your Son is the way, dear LORD. It is by Him on His terrible Day that we are purged of all dross in the fire of the Holy Spirit and so made pure to stand before you. O holy God, let us be refined like silver or gold that we might shine so brightly in your presence. By your grace only is this accomplished; let all be made new by your hands.

(1Sm.1:24-28; 1Sm.2:1,4-8; Lk.1:46-56) "His mercy is from age to age on those who fear Him." The Magnificat of Mary mirrors but, if I may say, far surpasses the Canticle of Hannah in beauty, in wonder, in grace… even as the perfection of the Son she bears far exceeds the blessing of the prophet Samuel. As Jesus brings to fulfillment the greatness of all who came before Him, so Mary's song expresses that perfection in the light of the same divine mercy. Mercy indeed is infused in each line she utters under the power of the Spirit. Mercy and truth, a love completely open to the blessings of God is hers and is revealed in the words which fall like cleansing rain from her immaculate lips. She is blessed, she knows, and she shall be called blessed; for the truth, the Word of God, cannot be hidden, must be raised to meet the eyes and ears of all who seek His grace. For "the hungry He [gives] every good thing," and the lowly He raises "to high places." She is "His servant in her lowliness" and the joy of such blessing she cannot help but proclaim with all her being. Hannah brings the child she has conceived in answer to her prayer, through the intercession of Eli – by the grace of God – and dedicates him to the Lord, leaving him at the temple. She, too, "exults in the Lord" for the fact that, in the Lord's will, "the barren wife bears seven sons"; for she who was thought sterile has borne the great man of God, Samuel. Mary, in her grateful appreciation for the blessing upon her, will not need to leave her child at the temple, for He has been conceived entirely of the Holy Spirit and is Himself the Temple of the Lord, wholly dedicated to the will of the Father from before the inception of time. As the ancient Israelites found the direction and guidance of God through the ministry of Samuel, as by him they were led to serve the Lord their God, so now in this the end of the age we have Jesus, the perfect light of guidance through the grace and mercy of God, to lead us to the total service of the Lord that Mary embodies so well. God is "mighty," brothers and sisters; "holy is His name." Let us rejoice in Him who "has upheld Israel His servant, ever mindful of His mercy," and let us make that same blessed mercy the leaven that lifts us unto heaven. To Him let us sing our song of praise. ******* O LORD, Mary you have blessed with your very presence, and so she has become the Temple in which you dwell – may we all become as your Temple. YHWH, to the humble you show your mercy; you raise them up to dwell with you. Our Mother Mary is the humblest of our race, and so she is at your side forever in Heaven. O may we be blessed as she! Hannah, too, you blessed, O LORD, she who had borne no children. Samuel, the man of God, you gave to her, for she had promised to give him to you. But the Son of Mary who could give to you, for He is with you always? Let us be with Him this very day, that we might remain in your Temple. O LORD, the proud and the mighty you tear down that they might know they are of the earth. But the meek and humble you raise to high places, even to your presence. Let us leave behind all the riches of this world; help us to escape the trap they are to us, the death they spell to our souls, that with the lowly we might dwell, in your eternal kingdom. O let your servants live!

O great defender of the faith, of the clear waters, the wellspring of salvation that flows from the Sacred Heart of our Savior into His holy Church, thus to nourish the world and fill it with truth and wisdom and love… you whom the Lord inspired with apostolic zeal to teach and lead souls along His holy way – teach us today by your gracious intercession to be faithful, to be obedient to the voice of Jesus and the Spirit speaking in the Mother the Lord God provides His pilgrim people. Let us not be separated from His Word and His precious Body and Blood, but come together as one in His presence.

(Is.7:10-14; Ps.24:1-7,10; Rm.1:1-7; Mt.1:18-24) "God is with us." How shall we "ascend the mountain of the Lord"? How shall we scale the heights and come to know Him as He is, He who "founded [the earth] upon the seas and established it upon the rivers"? Only by the Son, who "will save His people from their sins," are we made ready to stand in His presence. "For it is through the Holy Spirit this child has been conceived," and we are made holy by the blessing of His presence among our kind. He is one like us. Can you believe it? Can you understand it, understand its significance and the grace it is as a gift from God? Joseph struggled, certainly, to believe, to understand, to accept the greatness of this gift to him and to his people. The angel of the Lord had to come to him to convince him to receive such great grace into his life, into his home. But he did. He did believe, and he did fulfill his role in the coming salvation. And, yes, what of us? We "are called to belong to Jesus Christ… called to be holy." Paul answered the call from God to be His apostle and "bring about the obedience of faith"; again, what of us? Do we answer the call to holiness? Do we reflect that obedience? The time is upon us now. The great sign has been fulfilled in our midst. Jesus has been born and stands with us now to lead us to the purity of the Father – are we prepared to make this Child our own? What greater truth can be proclaimed than that God is with us? What greater grace can we receive than the forgiveness of our sins, than the preparation of our hearts for heaven? Jesus accomplishes these blessings now for all who desire to enter the presence of God, for He is the presence of God among us; He Himself is divine grace. His mercy is upon us. "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," brothers and sisters. The power of the Lord be upon your souls. May the "Spirit of holiness" establish you with the Son as a child of the Father. Be of "the race that seeks for Him," and you shall find Him present, dwelling in your homes. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Vision of Children" (1st part) from The Innocent Heart, first album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, you call us to be holy; let us indeed be as the Virgin Mother of your Son. YHWH, you are with us now in your only Son, who has been born of the womb of the Blessed Virgin. All the earth is yours, and now this Child comes into the world to save it from its sins, from the destruction that is upon it for having turned from you. O let us welcome Him into our homes! O LORD, let us belong to Jesus and so become one with you. May your grace and peace be upon us this day and all the days of our lives. Make us pure as His Mother that your holy mountain we might ascend and gaze upon your face with all your saints. Obedient to your call as Joseph let us be; let us listen to the voice of your angel. You desire us all to stand with you, but our hands must be sinless and our hearts clean. May the Virgin Mary, she who has conceived and borne your Son, pray the Spirit upon us, that our obedience shall be like her own, and so her blessing also. Be with us this day, dear God, and let us be with you.

(Is.7:10-14; Ps.24:1-7,10; Lk.1:26-38) "Blessed are you among women." "The virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and shall name Him Immanuel because 'God is with us.'" "The virgin's name was Mary." And she has given birth to the Savior. "Who may stand in His holy place?" King David sings in our psalm. "Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord?" Clearly Jesus is He. But as clear is that we are all called to be as He, and that she has been, she who is so like Him – she that is indeed His Mother. It is she who "seeks the face of the God of Jacob," she "whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean, who desires not what is vain…" and so she "receive[s] a blessing from the Lord," the greatest blessing: the Son of God. Fearful is she in her great humility in the awesome presence of the Lord. Questioning is she in the perfect innocence of her consecrated virginity. But obedient only is she as she hears of the answer to her devout prayer for the pregnancy of her kinswoman, and so assumes the role most native to her, the one she has promised to fulfill: "the maidservant of the Lord." O glorious Virgin Mary! You who worship so perfectly, so completely, the One who owns "the earth and its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it," and so bring that very fullness to us all, teach us to be like Jesus your Son, whom you imitate so absolutely, so naturally. Teach us to be as He who is flesh of your flesh. Be our Mother as well, that we might be brother and sister and mother to the Lord. Aid us in giving our total consent to the will of God. "O highly favored daughter! The Lord is with you." Pray He be with us now, too. "With that the angel left." Upon receiving her wholehearted acceptance of her call, his mission is finished, and so he goes. Brothers and sisters, may the angel leave our presence so satisfied that the call of the Lord for our lives will be so well answered. Take heart that "nothing is impossible with God" and that as blessed as she is, so blessed does the Lord call you to be – if you but say yes to His word burning in your soul and lay down your life as has the Mother of God. Give the Lord your "yes" this day. ******* O LORD, may the Blessed Virgin Mother of your Son pray for us this day that we shall be pure as she, and so, able to stand in your presence. YHWH, she whom you call to be Mother of your Son is indeed sinless in your sight. Because her heart is clean, she can accept your Word and give birth to our Savior. O may we be of her race! May we with all our souls seek your face and so find the blessing that is upon her. O let us know your only Son in our midst! The blessing you give us we could not imagine – it is beyond our ability to conceive. Yet, LORD, you come to us; you prepare a Virgin from among us that your Son might be with us and so we with you for all ages. O let all be done according to your will! Let us all follow the obedient path of our dear Mother. Let us be her children, O LORD, and so your own. O Mother of our Lord, blessed among women, most blessed of our race, pray for us this dark day that we will hear the Word of God spoken to our hearts. Pray our hearts be pure as your own, that they might receive our Creator.

(Jgs.13:2-7,24-25; Ps.71:3-6,8,16-17; Lk.1:5-25) "From my mother's womb you are my strength." How the above line from our psalm is reflected both in Samson and in John, and how parallel are the lives of these two great men. Of John it is said, "He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb"; of Samson, "This boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb" and "The Spirit of the Lord began to be with him." The birth of both is announced by an angel of the Lord. Both will be born of women who were barren. Both will be nazirites, who shall "never drink wine or strong drink," and whose head "no razor shall touch." Both come for the deliverance of the people, though Samson only from "the power of the Philistines" while John comes to "prepare for the Lord a people well-disposed," that we might have eternal salvation. Of course, Jesus, too, will have His birth announced by the angel of the Lord; He will be born of a woman from whom it seems no child could come – a consecrated virgin – and this of the Holy Spirit, who is with Him even before time. His is a new testament, however, signified by His birth of a woman of youth and not old age. Though hailed by the old, He brings the newness of God into our midst. His birth fulfills all the births and words and wisdom of the prophets and judges and kings of the Old Testament. But, returning to our psalm and its universal call in the voice of Christ (words which apply to all in their quest for God), we should remember today that for all, God is our "rock of refuge" on whom we "depend from birth." "You have taught me from my youth," the psalmist declares to the Lord, and so it should be true with us all that from the womb "till the present [we] proclaim [His] wondrous deeds." He works in all our lives, brothers and sisters; He has brought us all to birth and is acting now, His Spirit upon us, to see that we are born into His kingdom. The great figures of the Old Testament, and especially John, are models from whom we can all learn, holy men whom we can certainly admire. But as our Lord has stated clearly, none of those born of woman can compare with those born into the kingdom of heaven. And so, let us take our strength for our journey from His prophets and from His Word; from His Spirit let us receive what we need in this life for our journey to His paradise. As strong as were Samson and John, so much stronger can we now be by His Body and His Blood, our holy food on this earth, and by His Spirit upon us. ******* O LORD, it is you who give us life and make us strong – your Spirit be with us. YHWH, your power is upon the mothers of both Samson and John, and so upon their sons. They are born by your will to bring deliverance to the people. As they trusted in you from the womb, so let us be blessed to know you, LORD; let us be blessed to do your will. Strength we should all take in you, O LORD, for you teach us from our youth to this day: the moment we turn to you, you come to us, and from our souls you would never take your leave. O let us trust in you, that in our lives your works might be done. How hard it is for our wounded hearts to believe the glory you bring into our midst, dear LORD. Your presence is overwhelming to us and so difficult to bear. But you would make it easy, if we had but faith. Turn our hearts to the call to serve you, that we might be ready to receive you. O let us speak in your Name!

(Jer.23:5-8; Ps.72:1,7,12-13,18-19; Mt.1:18-24) "He will save His people from their sins." Each of our readings today mentions the salvation of our Lord. The above quote is from our gospel; our psalm states, "The lives of the poor He shall save"; and in our first reading it says, "In His days Judah shall be saved." The very name "Jesus" – as given to Joseph by the angel of the Lord – means "God saves". The great God of the universe, the living God who has brought us all to birth, comes among us, "is with us" ("Emmanuel") to save us, to redeem us, to bring us back to our "own land"… to be again with the Father. And this "righteous shoot to David," this king who "shall reign and govern wisely," who "shall do what is right and just in the land," is born from above, not below. As the angel also tells Joseph, "It is by the Holy Spirit that [Mary] has conceived this child." The Virgin is with child! Alleluia! A greater sign, a more complete love from the Father we could not imagine. And so we sing with our psalmist: "Blessed forever be His glorious name; may the whole earth be filled with His glory." Indeed, all nations, not only Judah, shall be saved by this Blessed Child. "The days are coming," brothers and sisters, and are already here. The Lord walks among us. The Child has been born, and is being born in each of us; and as a people He comes to us. Mary "bore a son"; Joseph named Him "Jesus", as instructed, and Jesus He is – His salvation has come forth. You must receive Him into your home with the Mother who bore Him. You must have faith that He is from above. Let Joseph be your model in care for the Savior, and He shall care for you for all eternity. Like Mary, nourish the Lord every day of your life. His love is growing in us all. His presence is becoming known. The promised of the ages dwells with us with His justice, and His kingdom is being built as we speak. No more will our sins condemn us. No more will we hide our faces from the Lord. We shall be free once more, and this time forever, for the Lord has heard the cry of the poor. ******* O LORD, since your Son is with us, we may now make our home in you – praise you for your justice! YHWH, your Son saves us from our sins. For this you have sent Him among us; for this He has been conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary – it is for this He has been born a Man. O let be accomplished that for which He has come! From Egypt you rescued your enslaved sons. From the land of the North you brought them back to their home. From all sin you now deliver all men, beginning with the Jew. O LORD, you hear us when we cry out – let us cry out to you that this day we might be saved. Let us welcome your Son into our home, that in Him we might find our eternal union with you. O LORD, let the earth be filled with your glory! This is your will, this is your desire… this is the goal to which all your Creation is straining. Speak to us this day that we might know the way you would lead us, and let us follow the angel's word to freedom in the reign of Jesus.

(Gn.49:2,8-10; Ps.72:3-4,7-8,17; Mt.1:1-17) "May He rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." Since "the scepter shall never depart from Judah," the reign of Jesus, His descendant, His fulfillment, is without end – He is King forever. And so, "tribute is brought to Him, and He receives the peoples' homage," which is in itself their salvation. Who is this Lion of Judah, fulfillment of Jacob's prophetic blessing of his son? What sort of king have we? It is in the words of our psalm we find His kingship revealed: "He shall defend the afflicted among the people, save the children of the poor." For Jesus, though fierce as a lion in His judgment – for there is nothing untrue in Him – reveals primarily the love of God the king must embody. In His reign, "the mountains shall yield peace for the people, and the hills justice." First is the love He brings to this generation; second, its complement, justice. And of what worth is the "family record of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham," we find in our gospel today? Be not overly bored by it, my brothers and sisters, for in its mundaneness it holds the key to our salvation. For it reveals how very real Jesus is, that He is part of our human family; and should this not make us rejoice, that the Son of God is also Son of Man? And though the forty-two or so names may not be familiar to our ears, we should know at least that there are all kinds in this family tree of Jesus, from great men and women of faith humble before their God, to wicked kings and a prostitute. There is thus hope for us all. Jesus is indeed the fulfillment of the promised son of Abraham, and son of David, the king who sits on the throne forever. It was of Mary He was born, and Mary's husband was Joseph. And since husband and wife are one – and though there's was only a spiritual communion, it is in the spiritual communion unity is truly found – we trace His line through this humble man. And we pray we shall enter into communion with the Lord ourselves and live in the reign of this King in whom "all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed." Today we praise our brother in the flesh and pray to be made one in His Spirit. May He indeed rule over all. ******* O LORD, because your Son judges justly, peace shall reign to the ends of the earth – for this He has come among us. YHWH, your Son rules over all; from sea to sea and to the ends of the earth His rule extends, for He has been born into our midst, He has become part of our generation, and so all in our midst, every generation, is under His reign. Alleluia! All the tribes of the earth should rejoice in Him, O LORD. Though David's Son and so of your Chosen people, yet your prophets have foretold that every people shall bow down before Him, even as all David's sons. This Lion of Judah shall govern all with justice, shall bring peace to all who call upon His Name. Alleluia, LORD! For this grace we thank you. Truly the Name of Jesus shall remain as long as the sun – forever His Name shall be blessed in our midst. For He has come among us to save us; He is indeed one of us and brings divine blessings in His wake. O LORD, in every heart let Him reign!

(Zep.3:1-2,9-13; Ps.34:2-3,6-7,17-19,23; Mt.21:28-32) "I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord." All have been "rebellious and polluted"; all have been as she who "hears no voice" and "accepts no correction." But the Lord now comes to "change and purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord." Who is it who hears the voice of the Lord to "not be ashamed of all [our] deeds, [our] rebellious acts against [Him]"? "Let me make it clear that tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you," Jesus states simply and directly to the chief priests and elders. These lowest of society, these most polluted, have put faith in John's preaching of "a way of holiness," but those most esteemed, the elder son whose words bear the stamp of God but whose actions are far from Him, are held back from entering the kingdom by their pride, perhaps thinking they are already there. How sad. How can it be that those so steeped in the holy Scriptures do not hear the words of David's psalm: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves"? Or how are they blind to the vision of the "humble and lowly" the Lord deems to bless? For that matter, how do they hide themselves from the great prophet's declaration that the Lord "will remove from [their] midst the proud braggarts"? Our words alone will not save us, brothers and sisters. However great the lines of the scribe or the preaching of the priest, it will mean nothing if not lived in flesh and blood. Better to say no to God, as the younger son, and then turn to Him and do His will. Certainly we all stray; and this we must recognize. But just as certain is that all must turn to Him, after regretting our sin, and do as He commands. Do not be afraid. The Lord will "destroy remembrance of evildoers," but count not yourself as in allegiance with them. Be among those who "speak no lies" and you "shall pasture and couch [your] flocks with none to disturb [you]." The vision of God and His Spirit shall be your own. ******* O LORD, let us speak no lie before you but let our actions meet our words of praise. YHWH, we must do your will to enter your kingdom, this your Son makes clear to all. We cannot merely honor you with our lips but must make our holiness incarnate as His. O the woe of the proud, dear LORD! How terrible their separation from you. For they are blind even to their separation, and so, what shall save them? Let them be saved by seeing the humble come to you; let them know your mercy and love by witnessing your forgiveness toward the lowly sinner… and let them accept your mercy upon their own hearts. Purify our lips, O LORD, from all lies, all deceitful words. Let it be your holy NAME that is upon our tongues, that we might dwell in truth and peace and humility, and praise your glory forever. You are close to the brokenhearted, LORD; you gather even the rebellious into your arms. Let us accept the correction of your Son and cry out to you, that we may indeed be saved and come to serve you.

(Nm.24:2-7,15-17; Ps.25:4-9; Mt.21:23-27) "A star shall advance from Jacob, and a staff shall rise from Israel." And the light of that star is reflected in the eyes of Balaam, who, though a pagan, is gifted by God with the clear vision to see the beauty and wonder of "Israel encamped, tribe by tribe," "like gardens beside a stream," "like the cedars planted by the Lord." And as He is seen in the nation of Israel blessed by the Lord, so His glory is reflected in the heart and words and actions of everyone who believes and proclaims in truth that Jesus is that star, that Jesus is the Son of God. Those who remain close to the teaching of Jesus, and to His ways, "shall have the sea within reach." There shall be an abundance of wisdom at the ready for those who are graced with ears to hear His words. "He teaches the humble His way," yes, and guides us on straight paths which lead directly to the Most High. And "with eyes unveiled" we shall gaze not only on His reflection in the fields of this earthly existence, but on Him Himself as He is in heaven. The teaching of Jesus is divine and He Himself is divine, above whose authority there is no other. But His light can only be seen, His words can only be understood by those whose hearts are open to truth and willing to walk the path He sets. If the "chief priests and elders of the people" closed themselves off from Him in a political quandary, we must not do so. Instead we must be as His apostles, in whom the tribes of Israel are truly aligned perfectly, and have as ready a response as we know Peter had on the shores of Galilee, as Thomas had when He appeared in their midst: He is our Lord, our God. This we must see. This we must know. And this we must proclaim. The star has risen in our midst; the Savior has come. Now we await the fulfillment of that light and must bring it to bear in this generation. Now we must follow that star where it leads. ******* O LORD, let our eyes see the coming of your Son, and our hearts put faith in His authority. YHWH, let our eyes not be blind, blind to the glory that stands before us in your only Son. Let our eyes be open to vision of your kingdom, the kingdom He brings to this earth. Let our tents be set in line with your will, O LORD; let our hearts be humble before you. LORD God, you show the humble your way; you bless them with your presence in their souls and your light shining in their lives. Teach us this day the way we should walk, the way marked out for us by your Son. Upon Him your authority rests – let us not question His divinity but believe in His power and so in your own. May His Word transform our souls. The wisdom of the ages comes to us this day in Jesus and in His words. Here is the ocean at our hands, before our eyes, that all we might know of your goodness, LORD. Let us honor Him as our King who has come and follow in the way He leads.