The BreadCast

O patron of scientists and philosophers, you of brilliant mind who taught with both human and divine wisdom, who led your students to deeper and purer understanding of God and His world and most especially His Church – pray we partake of your teaching this day, that the light you brought to the minds of your flock will not be lost or forgotten by eyes blind to the truth. Pray the word upon your soul will bring us closer to the Lord that we might partake of Him in sacrament and in preaching. O how shall we see if you do not pray for us, if you do not serve to guide us to the glory that surpasses our poor ability to comprehend Him?

(Ws.18:14-16,19:6-9; Ps.105:2-3,5,36-37,42-43; Lk.18:1-8) "He led forth His people with joy; with shouts of joy, His chosen ones." "They beheld stupendous wonders." Before their eyes, "out of what had been water, dry land was seen emerging." And so, sheltered by the mighty hand of the Lord, they crossed over, from the land of bondage to freedom. And in their joy "they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs…" praising the Lord, "their deliverer." This is the story of our own salvation; this is the way of our own redemption from the sin which holds us bound on this earthly plane. Our exodus, too, must come. The Lord shall return to earth. As He was faithful in leading the Israelites forth from the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves four hundred years, so He will not forget us who have been in the bonds of Satan upon this plane. Our deliverance, too, will come. Yes, my brothers and sisters, God will "do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night." He will not "delay long over them" but will "give them swift justice." The vision of the Israelites at the Red Sea will be our own. Before our eyes we will see the dry land appearing. We shall rejoice at the Lord's hand guiding our steps out of this dark land. "An unimpeded road" we shall travel, moving toward His promised land. Yes, heaven will be ours. The first-born of Satan, the flower of his evil, shall be destroyed in the stillness of the night, and truth and goodness and light will emerge victorious; and we shall be led forth, as it were, "laden with silver and gold," rejoicing in the abundant blessings of our Lord and God. He does not delay. He will not delay. We wait, yes, and struggle with our faith… but He is ready – He does not have to be asked twice. But as our hearts are weakened by sin, we must be encouraged, we must continue to pray, always, even in the face of darkness. Through the darkness the Lord's light shall come shining, if we remain faithful in our cries. So, "sing to Him, sing His praise… O hearts that seek the Lord!" for He is near in all our prayers, and shall lead us forth into His blessed kingdom. Alleluia! ******* O LORD, your justice is swift but who is there that calls out to you, that desires your hand at work in his life? YHWH, what marvels you have worked for us; for we who were overshadowed by sin, who seemed trapped by its darkness, abandoned to its clutches, have been mightily delivered from sure death and destruction to stand with you in your kingdom. And should we now have no faith in you? Should we fail to cry out to you for secure protection? Will your justice not come quickly to us, whom you so love and for whom you so desire salvation? O LORD, let us not be so foolish as to doubt your good will toward us and your power to save us; let us not forget the wonders you have performed for us even to this day. And what greater wonders await those who hope in you! For the dry land we shall soon stand upon when your Son returns, when He has overshadowed our enemies and redeemed us from all darkness, shall be the Promised Land of Heaven. O praise you, LORD! Your people glory in your holy NAME.

(Ws.13:1-9; Ps.19:2-5; Lk.17:26-37) "Wherever the carcass is, there will the vultures gather." It is so that "the heavens proclaim the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork." It is true that "from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen." Yes, "the things seen are fair," and speak even of the glory of our God… but they shall indeed all come to naught when He alone stands before us on the last day. In the created world we exist. To an extent, in the created world we take refuge, discerning the hand of God at work in the things around us and coming by way of the knowledge presented to us in their beauty and wonder to that Hand which has created all. And so they can be beneficial to us. And so they can help to reveal God's presence to us who are so blind. But both the warning of our reading from Wisdom and Christ's own words in the gospel must be heeded: we cannot make "fire," "wind," or "mighty water" our gods; and we cannot be attached to our possessions. For these things of nature, as great as God has made them, and these things at our disposal, as much a blessing they may be to us for our time on earth, are passing away. Only God remains. Brothers and sisters, we must look upon the stars of heaven, we must see the signs wrought in our midst… but we cannot be distracted by them from the God who made them. We must eat and drink, we must take husbands and wives… but we cannot get drunk or live in lust, allowing the earthly to overcome our spirits. Lot's wife turned to see what she'd left behind; she longed to return to her possessions and the carnal life of Sodom. Unable to understand or accept the grace of the angel of God who was leading her forth to a safer and more glorious land, she was turned to salt – all of worth was taken from her; only the carcass remained. The day shall come when all we see shall be destroyed. And so, how important it is that our hearts not be set on all we see, else we shall be destroyed with it. Though with utmost respect we treat this world and even find joy in its beauty, we must ever keep in mind that its beauty is passing and is only significant if it leads to the eternal beauty of heaven. ******* O LORD, we must discern the signs of the times, for your Son will soon return and we will have to leave all things behind. YHWH, the heavens declare your glory to all, but do we upon earth hear the angels' voices? Do we take their message of your beauty and wonder and power to heart, or do we lose ourselves in these things and pass away as they do? For the things in the heavens and those upon the earth, though blessed to find your voice resounding in them, soon turn to dust – only your kingdom remains. Will we stand with you on the last Day? Soon your Son shall come and fully reveal your glory shining in our midst. Soon He will be here to carry us to Heaven. But will we be ready to travel with Him, or will our souls be dead and empty as a carcass? Will we turn back to the things of the earth and so be turned to salt, or place our faith in Him alone and so fly unto your presence? Let us not be lost in the things we see, O LORD, but raise our minds to look upon that which passes not away. Let us come to you.

O mother of the faith and helper of the stranger in the New World, you sought with great diligence to preserve the true religion in a land hostile to Mother Church, to assist those in spiritual as well as physical need – pray a measure of your missionary spirit be poured out upon your daughters, upon the many houses you established and all those served by them. Pray the country you took to heart and which became your own will turn resolutely to the Lord and His blood and away from the destruction of its soul, upon which it seems so set. Pray the faith shall be restored from shore to shore and this nation in truth become a light on a hill.

(Ws.7:22-8:1; Ps.119:89-91,130,135,175; Lk.17:20-25) "Let your countenance shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes." Wisdom, who "is fairer than the sun and surpasses every constellation of the stars… reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well." Wisdom "penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity," for she is "the refulgence of eternal light." How like the Lord she is, He whose coming "day will be like the lightning that flashes from one end of the sky to the other" and yet whose reign is "already in [our] midst." How we are filled with understanding when this light which "endures forever," which "is firm as the heavens," shines upon our simple minds, leading us to the grace of eternal glory. Wisdom we need, brothers and sisters. The Lord's Word must be with us. "For there is naught God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom." Else we shall be as those who "go running about excitedly" at every report of the Lord's being "here" or "there," at every proclamation of the end being near. The end is here; it is now the Son of Man "must suffer much and be rejected by the present age." The Lord has come, and so "the reign of God is already in [our] midst." Its fulfillment we shall not discern by "careful watching," by setting our sights on the things of the earth, but only with the "intelligent, pure, and very subtle" spirit of Wisdom. She alone teaches us of the kingdom, for she alone is "the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of His goodness." Without her purity, our minds are dimmed. Without her surpassing light, we cannot but be blind. She alone knows, she alone leads holy souls into the truth of His presence. All words lacking her light are but vain speculation, which shall come to naught, which shall fall to the earth from which they are derived. Heaven alone is lasting. Have we the light of Wisdom directing our thoughts and actions, brothers and sisters? Is her purity set firmly within us? Will we then stand on the day the lightning flashes, on the day the glory of the Lord is revealed? Do we carry that glory now within us? If not, let us turn to Wisdom, and she will teach us. Like a mother who cares for her children she will be. And led to the presence of the Lord we will be, where we will find our peace. Let us not fail to take her gentle yoke upon our shoulders; let the cross of Christ and the light of the coming kingdom be ever our guide. ******* O LORD, your Son is in our midst most especially in His Cross, and it is through His Cross Wisdom shines most brightly. YHWH, let the Spirit of Wisdom fill us, your Holy Spirit pass into us and make us as your prophets. Let us speak only your Word in all we do, moving ever with the One who is beyond all motion – intelligent, holy, and pure let us be. Without the light of Wisdom our lives shall be as nothing in your sight; let your countenance shine upon us. Your reign is coming by the power of the Holy Spirit; it is now already in our midst. Not relegated to space or time, it is not readily perceived by the mind of man – he cannot put his finger upon it or control it in any way. All we can do is desire your presence with us, LORD, that when the lightning flashes in your eternal sky, we will stand firm with you who endure forever, and with your Son. Give us your light, dear God, that we might be established well in your glorious kingdom.

O shepherd thirsty for souls, whose only desire was the unity of the Church under Christ her King and on the Rock of Peter… for this cause you gave your life; for this call from the Lord you shed your blood – pray this day all may be one, that none shall shrink from fulfilling this desire of Jesus but by the power of the Holy Spirit work tirelessly and with great courage to slake the thirst of the Lord. We are all children of one Father; we have but one Brother in Christ and one Mother in the Catholic faith. Pray this truth shall prevail over the deceptions of the devil, who would separate and conquer souls but who is turned back from his evil course when we are willing to die for one another.

(Ws.6:1-11; Ps.82:3-4,6-8; Lk.17:11-19) "Stand up and go your way; your faith has been your salvation." "This man was a Samaritan." Jesus chose the lowest of the low, not only a leper, the most ostracized of all individuals, but a Samaritan, a foreigner most despised by the Israelite nation, to reveal His mercy, to reveal the universal nature of His forgiveness, and so the universal call to salvation. He demonstrates that all may have faith in Him, and that it is for us to call all to Him. Many are given power on this earth, power which was far from the Samaritan leper healed by Jesus. And Wisdom makes clear the responsibility that comes with that authority, the manner in which that judgment placed in the hands of princes must be effected. For the Lord shall hold accountable all to whom power is given; He shall "probe [their] works and scrutinize [their] counsels." And if they keep not His law and "walk according to the will of God," great as the power given them shall be their punishment. "For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy," as was the leper in our gospel today, "but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test." I find it rather frightening to hear that "for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends," for, brothers and sisters, we are all given a measure of power by the Lord, and so all shall be held responsible for their gifts. It can make us quake in our shoes to think that we are answerable to God, to the all-powerful Lord of the universe, for all we do. Do we "keep the holy precepts" well? Will we "have ready a response" when He stands before us, when He inquires of our actions? If we desire His words, we know that He will instruct us, but how can we who are so human and sinful be as faithful as we need to be? Our psalm warns us: "You are gods, all of you sons of the Most High" – we are all gifted greatly by our God to be as His children – "yet like men you shall die, and fall like any prince…" yet oh how human we are, how subject to the elements of sin and death. What shall we do? Our psalm indicates what our actions should be: "Defend the lowly and the fatherless; render justice to the afflicted and the destitute." And the blessed leper in our gospel reveals the attitude we should have toward our Lord: "He threw himself on his face at the feet of Jesus and spoke His praises." If we think ourselves any better than he or do anything differently, we shall not hear the Lord calling us to rise and go forth – we shall not find our salvation. Let us demonstrate our faith and the grace at work within us. ******* O LORD, you raise the lowly who call to you, but the wicked who turn their faces from your presence you cut down. YHWH, the lowly and the poor you raise up, so let us fall on our face before you. Like the leper let us know and remember that only by your Son are we made whole; only by you do we have life at all. Whatever power we may have in this world comes only from you, and we shall be answerable for it. You scrutinize all matters, LORD, for your eye sees all things. The haughty soul does not escape your glance but shall be brought to judgment for the evil in his heart and at his hands. If we desire to find blessing from you, to come into your presence in the kingdom, how humble we must be and faithful in your service. We are all made princes by your grace upon us. Though we come from dust you breathe the breath of life into us and so form us in your image. And in your image we must remain, to it we must return, O LORD. Without your wisdom to lead us, how terribly we shall be judged. Save us from such a deadly fate, and we shall sing your praise.

O sacrificial shepherd, you gave your life for your flock; a poor and humble man, you gathered the poor and humble of the Lord into the arms of His Church, where they might be fed with His grace. Ever with arms upraised you taught your people ever to pray and founded many houses of prayer; peace you brought to your church that all might serve the one true God – pray we shall be humble and lowly as you, dear shepherd, and so mirror the life of our Lord. Pray our lives be entrusted to Him, that whatever we do be in His will; whether we live or die, let it not matter to us, but only let matter the laying down of our lives, that by such sacrificial offering God's Word might go forth and all souls be welcomed into Abraham's arms.

(Ws.2:23-3:9; Ps.34:2-3,16-19; Lk.17:7-10) "The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them." What does the Lord mean when He instructs us in our gospel to say, "We are useless servants," than that which David says in our psalm, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves," and that which the Book of Wisdom states in our first reading: "Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself"? For though we who serve Christ seem to be dead in the judgment of this world, and the laying down of our lives in service of Christ – who died upon the cross quite freely – seems to be nothing but "utter destruction," yet we know that it is precisely this death in Christ which brings life… and in His hands we shall be blessed. "The Lord confronts evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth." Yet "when the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress He rescues them." Yes, "those who trust in Him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with Him in love: because grace and mercy are with His holy ones, and His care is with His elect." And "they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their king forever." For they have given their service to the One who rules the universe, and so in His service they shall remain – death shall have no power over them. If "God formed man to be imperishable" and made him "the image of His own nature," what shall touch those who serve Him, who treasure that image of God upon them? How shall they die? "We have done no more than our duty." This is the bottom line of our time on earth. And the accomplishment of our duty, the fulfillment of the Lord's Word at work in our hearts, is all that is needed to bring us to eternal life. And though it is not His obligation, though certainly no reward is due us who have but carried out the orders of our superior, the Lord will say to us in His grace on that day, "Come and sit down at table." And we shall sup with Him eternally, His gracious hand upon us for good. Brothers and sisters, forget not your call to serve Him, to lay down your lives before Him, and He shall not neglect to hear you now, and to give you life eternal. Keep your "hope full of immortality" even "as gold in the furnace" your mettle is proven this day, and the day of the Lord shall be yours, when all torment shall have fled away. ******* O LORD, we are indeed useless servants, but you greatly bless those who serve you. YHWH, death is upon us this day, you know. But we who are joined to the Cross of your Son are not touched by it: from death you save your faithful servants. Whatever power the devil has to threaten us with our sins and the death that comes from them has been destroyed by the sacrifice of Jesus. And so, we who humble ourselves with Him will be blessed in your kingdom. When we cry out to you, dear LORD, you are quick to save us; near indeed you are to the brokenhearted. Though our spirits be crushed by the travails of this life, you raise them to your presence. And so, what can we do but glory in your NAME? What can we do but look forward to that day when we shall sit at your table? O LORD, let us be purified of all dross by the affliction we suffer in union with your only Son. Remade in His image, into your peace let us come, dwelling in immortality.

O true Pastor of God's Church, defender of the faith from forces without and within her walls, you proved that this House founded by Christ the Lord shall never succumb to the powers of hell but ever stand strong against all tides of the world and the evil influence of the devil – pray though the flesh be weak, though every member be prone to sin, that all souls set on the Rock that is the bark of Peter shall repel every attack against the integrity of the faith and stand with Jesus as king over the flesh, as priest offering pure sacrifice, as prophet speaking His words… and so until the end of time may God's Church be ever blessed.