The BreadCast

(Acts 5:27-32,40b-41; Ps.30:2,4-6,11-13; Rv.5:11-14; Jn.21:1-19) "You changed my mourning into dancing." Throughout our readings today we witness the glory the risen Lord effects by His sacrifice, the change of fate that comes by the Savior. In our first reading, though the apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin for persecution, they leave their presence rejoicing, happy to have "suffer[ed] dishonor for the sake of the name." In our psalm David sings the praise of the Lord for His having brought him "up from the netherworld," turning his weeping into joy. In our second reading, John sees and hears "every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out" the "blessing and honor, glory and might" of "the Lamb that was slain" – perceiving thus the ultimate fulfillment of the Lord's living sacrifice. And in our gospel, though the apostles had toiled in vain all the night within their boat, and were tired and hungry and disillusioned as morning approached, Jesus stood upon the shore… and at His instruction they caught more fish than they could carry, and were fed by His hand. The light follows darkness, inevitably. "At nightfall, weeping enters in, but with the dawn, rejoicing." It is the maxim of the universe, epitomized by the death and resurrection of the Christ. And so, though Jesus calls Peter from the freedom he has known in youth to the bondage that shall be his as he "grow[s] old," it is understood that, indeed, by this "death he [will] glorify God," and thus joining his death with the Lord's own, shall know the same glorious morn Jesus does now own, and to which He leads all His followers. Darkness can never overcome the eternal light of our God; of the glory of the Lord the angels and all living creatures sing in heaven even now. And we shall join their voices soon, we shall stand in the ranks with Peter and John and David and all His holy ones very soon. Once we have finished giving thanks to the living God for the suffering we are graced to endure here in His name, we will come to the joy that is ours in Him in heaven. Then we shall dance and sing forever. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Souls at a Carnival" from All One, sixth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, may the blood of your Son cleanse us of sin, and may our own death glorify you. YHWH, Jesus was killed by being hung on a tree, but you preserved Him from among those going down into the pit, you brought Him up from the netherworld, and with Him all those obedient to His Word. Now in glory He sits with you upon the throne, and the angels and all creatures in Heaven and on earth and under the earth praise His holy Name. And, yes, those who follow Him here unto death shall come to such glory with Him in Heaven. To the Lamb who was slain belong all honor and glory and blessing; and to His disciples, to those who lay down their lives that His sheep might be fed, comes the blessing that rests upon Him. O LORD, make us fruitful in your sight! May we help turn the mourning of mankind into dancing and singing before your throne. Forever let us give you thanks for having been found worthy to suffer dishonor here for the sake of your Name.

(1Cor.15:1-8; Ps.19:2-5; Jn.14:6-14) "The man who has faith in me will do the works I do." What is the message the apostles preach "to the ends of the world"? What is "the glory of God" that "the heavens declare" and "the firmament proclaims"? It is none other than Jesus' words to Thomas: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me"; it is His answer to Philip: "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." The Father "lives in [Jesus] accomplishing His works," and Jesus lives in His apostles continuing the great work of God. Here is the Gospel in short, which Paul preaches to the Corinthians in our first reading: "Christ died for our sins in accord with the Scriptures… He was buried and, in accord with the Scriptures, rose on the third day." He has appeared to all the apostles who preach His Name, who declare His salvation to all men; and He is known to us this day in His Spirit, in His Church, in His Sacraments and in His Word. And indeed it is so that knowing Him we know the Father; filled with His Spirit we cannot but proclaim the majesty of the grace at work in Him through His Church. Standing on the solid foundation the apostles have set, what can shake our faith or keep us from His glorious presence? Brothers and sisters, on days such as this – and indeed on all days – our hearts should burn intensely with the love of the Lord. Our souls should join with the blessed spirit of these holy apostles and declare aloud the silent Word that "imparts knowledge" to the minds of all. So should our "voice[s] resound" of the glory of God and the grace He has poured forth in our spirits. Let the earth be filled with His light! Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music by Roger Fortney; used by permission. ******* O LORD, you are seen in your Son; let Him be seen in us. YHWH, let us do your works; let us believe in you and bring your Gospel to the ends of the earth. Let us declare with your holy apostles that your Son has died for our sins, and that He is now risen. Dear LORD, open our eyes to see that Jesus is in you and you are in Him. Truly He is the way, the truth, and the life – by His presence amongst us, we are saved and drawn into life. Let us follow in His way and so become one with you and with the Spirit. With confidence may your apostles speak, LORD, that your voice might go out to all the world and all hearts might declare that Jesus is God, and that in Him alone we are redeemed. O let us all speak for Him as He comes to us this day! Make us His brothers in the faith, dear Father, those who see you and know you and do your will. Strengthen us today to do your work, and so find glory in your Name.

(Acts 5:12-16; Ps.118:1-4,22-27; Rv.1:9-13,17-19; Jn.20:19-31) "When I caught sight of Him, I fell down at His feet as though dead." But Jesus "touched [John] with His right hand and said, 'Do not be afraid.'" Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" as he humbled himself at the sight of the risen Christ who had appeared before him, and so he was blessed with faith. The first believers "carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them." And the sick and possessed brought forth "were all cured." All "those who fear the Lord" know His eternal mercy! Brothers and sisters, let us not be afraid to humble ourselves in awe before the mighty Lord and the apostles He sends forth in His name and with the blessing of the Father. We must set our hearts on "the first and the last, the One who lives," and let nothing keep us from the path to His grace, to the glorious vision of His holy face. He waits. He waits in expectation for all humble souls to turn to the blood poured out by the nail marks in His hands and the wound in His side. He wishes not to have died in vain, and so with power He sends the Spirit out through the ministry and the sacraments of His Church on earth. "Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles," and these same wonders and more are offered for our edification and our salvation this day. The time of fulfillment is upon us and the Lord Jesus is not remiss with His graces: generously the fount of mercy gushes forth. And as John was surrounded by water on the island of Patmos in the day of his divine vision, so are we surrounded with the blessings of the Lord, if we but come to His presence. He is near. He is waiting. Do not doubt; but believe – and whatever ailment of body or soul, heart or mind, which seems to obstruct your reception of the glory of God, will be removed in an instant, if you but fall down at His feet in awe. Dead before Him we must be, dead to sin and sadness. Alive in the Spirit we must remain, keeping His peace within us. With John let us share "the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus," and the distress will disappear and the kingdom come, even as we endure all in His name. God's "peace be with you." Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Branch of the Vine" from Loving Spirit, third album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, your mercy endures forever; help us to trust in you. YHWH, let us lay our broken bodies in the streets that your apostle might pass by and we be healed of our infirmity. Let us fall down at the feet of your glorious Son and feel His hand upon us and hear His voice reassuring us. May the risen Jesus be known to us that in faith we might proclaim, "My LORD and my God!" O let His peace be upon us! May the Holy Spirit ever guide us. O LORD, let your divine mercy be upon our souls that we might be forgiven all our sins; all our doubts and fears be washed away in the blood of your Son. He has been rejected by the builders, but those who are pressed hard by the trials of this earthly life know the wonders He does for all who believe. He was once dead but now is alive, and we who believe in Him are raised up from all sin to look upon Heaven. In His wounds we find new life.

(Dn.3:14-20,91-92,95; Dn.3:52-56; Jn.8:31-42) "The truth will set you free." Sin binds. Like the cords with which "the strongest men in [Nebuchadnezzar's] army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego," sin fetters our souls and casts us "into the white-hot furnace." "Everyone who lives in sin is the slave of sin." But for those like these three faithful servants who "will not… worship the golden statue that [the king of this world] set up," there is freedom. For the Lord who is "praiseworthy and exalted above all forever," who sits "on the throne of [His] kingdom… in the firmament of heaven," "can save us from the white-hot furnace and from [the king's] hands." For those who "yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God," sin holds no sway. And so we find them "unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire," the angel of God at their side. God sits on His "throne upon the cherubim," but He "look[s] into the depths." And so He sends His Son to walk among us and set us free from slavery to sin. As Jesus says, "I come forth from God, and am here." Here is the Son; here is the true reflection of the Father. Here, indeed, is Truth itself, by whom we are all set free. How Jesus strove to bring the truth to "those Jews who believed in Him" but struggled in their acceptance. But the Lord does not pull punches; He does not gloss over the truth, however harsh it may seem. He tells them plainly, "You are trying to kill me," and so they do the works of Satan – and so do they sin. In their pride they deny their sin, and the envious plots in their hearts: "Our father is Abraham," they argue, and not the evil one. "We are no illegitimate breed!" But the truth is that they are, and though it mean His death, Jesus must deliver this truth unto them… for it is all that will set them free. How little it seems the truth is brought to the people today, and so, how few it seems are set free. As sin goes merrily along, the devil sits laughing… But God is still God, and the Son is still the Son, and all who give themselves to Him and not the idols of this earth will still find themselves set free. Brothers and sisters, "if the Son frees you, you will really be free." Confront your own sin, and entrust all to Him. ******* O LORD, from your throne on high you send your Son to rescue us from the fires of sin; let us love His words and put faith in Him and you. YHWH, you alone are God, exalted above all on your glorious throne. This is truth. And so, you alone should we worship with heart, mind, and soul. You alone we should praise. In you alone we should trust – you alone should be our Father. But how easily we lie and become children of the father of lies; how readily we harden our hearts against your Word, against your truth, LORD, bowing down before the golden statue and going so far as to kill the One who bears your truth to us. Jesus would convict us of our sins. He would reveal to us the truth of our fallen nature that we might be saved, that we might be set free from the sin that binds us and casts us into the white-hot furnace. But our pride will not be broken, and so, trapped within it we remain. O LORD, let us show the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Let us trust our very lives into your hands. Even in this furnace let us praise your Name, and your Son will come to us to set us free.

(Dn.13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62; Ps.23:1-6; Jn.8:12-20) "Judgment of mine is valid because I am not alone. I have at my side the One who sent me, the Father." "It is laid down in [the Mosaic] law that evidence given by two persons is valid." Thus does the assembly condemn Susanna to death, because the two elders testify as one against her. But then "God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel," and so we find a better pair of witnesses – the Spirit and Daniel – to refute the lies of the wicked elders. And so Daniel, empowered by the Spirit, separates these evil men; and so the lack of integrity and unity in their testimony is exposed; and so "an angel of God shall receive the sentence from Him and split [them] in two" – the "fine lie" they have told will cost them their heads. And can there be any truer witness of two than that which is known in the Father and the Son, both of whom testify, in the Spirit, that Jesus is "the light of the world"? This great truth cannot be hidden, and so those whose witness is most perfect must speak it, that "no follower of [His] shall ever walk in darkness" but "shall possess the light of life." This is the will of God, whose Word is true; and this revelation shall be accomplished despite any deceptions devised by those who walk in darkness. Brothers and sisters, be comforted that the Lord is "at [your] side, with [His] rod and staff that give [you] courage." With Him and with His Spirit you shall be saved from all evil. Be as Susanna in your time of trial: "Through her tears she looked up to heaven, for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly," and He will strengthen you and "spread the table before [you] in the sight of [your] foes." Taking Him as your witness, you cannot be denied. And the same justification she has known will be your own. All wicked men shall meet their end, for lies cannot stand and the "past sins" of the false judges shall "come to term." There is but one Judge whose verdict is true and lasting, and all those who find refuge in Him and His Father shall stand as He does unto eternity. ******* O LORD, your testimony is true as is that of your Son for the Holy Spirit is upon Him. YHWH, your Son is the light of the world; to this you testify in His every word, in His every action. He is one with you, O God, and looking upon Him we see your face. Father in Heaven, your Spirit is upon Jesus to speak the truth – may we know Him well that we might know you. If in you we trust, dear LORD, we shall be saved from every trial. If we keep our eyes up and looking to Heaven, even through our tears you shall answer our prayers. None is left alone who calls upon your Name; help comes quickly to those who recognize their need. And so, in your kindness you have sent us Jesus; the Spirit goes forth in His wake. To your table we are drawn, LORD, where our heads are anointed with holy oil. No judgment comes upon the soul who trusts in Christ, for He walks only in light… and so it is with those who follow in His way.

(Is.43:16-21; Ps.126:1-6; Phil.3:8-14; Jn.8:1-11) "Forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal." In times past the Lord opened "a way in the sea" for the Israelites to pass through, while Pharoah's army He "snuffed out and quenched like a wick." Afterward, He "brought back the captives of Zion" from the lands to which they had been scattered to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. "Great things" the Lord has done for His people, but through the prophet Isaiah He enjoins all to "remember not the events of the past," to "consider not" these mighty and wondrous deeds. For as marvelous as His deeds once were, now He proclaims, "See, I am doing something new!" And indeed, something new is in our midst. We see perfect evidence of this surpassing work in the apostle Paul, who has "accepted the loss of all things" – including any righteousness this former Pharisee may have had by the law – that he may "gain Christ and be found in Him," for he knew that all good things are to be found in Jesus the Lord. And now he is but "depending on faith to know Him and the power of His resurrection." Here is the new thing which is done: the only Son has died and been raised from the grave, never to die again. And so Paul seeks to share "of His sufferings," to be "conformed to His death," that he too "may attain the resurrection from the dead." Nothing else is worth our time or our breath in this world; only this "one thing" calls us upward to God. And see how this new thing has affected the adulterous woman, the sinner who represents us all. She is brought forward in all her abomination, deserving death for the act she has knowingly committed… yet she leaves Christ's presence an entirely free woman. Free not merely to go as she pleases, but free from the sin which should have spelled her condemnation. Here is the new thing as it affects every human soul: the forgiveness of our sins. And what joy this should bring us! For if Jesus who is to judge the heart of all sentient beings does not condemn us, who shall stand with stone in hand to punish our transgression? But heed, my brother, my sister, the Lord's due warning, if you would truly know the grace of this new thing – "from now on do not sin anymore" – or what is new and bringing refreshment will become old and stale very soon. Forward we must strive all the days of our lives, leaving well behind our sins; only in heaven will we take full hold of Him who has taken possession of us by His mercy. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Cleansing" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, cleanse us of our sin and draw us into your kingdom. YHWH, great things you have done for us, and so we should announce your praise. For you have put behind us all our sins and call us upward now to you in your Son. There seemed no way through this desert, but like torrents of water in the wasteland you have poured your grace upon us; and we are set free, and we escape judgment… and we come running now to you. Something new you indeed accomplish in our midst, something greater than the parting of the Red Sea or the drowning of Pharaoh's army. For then you saved your people from certain death, yes, as well as from slavery; but they would soon die anyway, as do all who travel here. But now it is eternal condemnation from which we are redeemed. Now everlasting life we strain toward as we embrace Jesus' holy Cross. O LORD, let us but know the grace come to us in your Son! Thank you for your forgiveness.

(Ws.2:1,12-22; Ps.34:17-21,23; Jn.7:1-2,10,25-30) "He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is His Father." And for such He shall be persecuted; for such He shall be killed. For to the wicked "He is the censure of [their] thoughts; merely to see Him is a hardship" for those who stray from the Lord's commands. And so, in vain attempt to spare themselves the just judgment of the Lord, in their jealousy they say to one another: "With revilement and torture let us put Him to the test"; and so they "condemn Him to a shameful death," tempting the Lord God to watch over Him. Evil are their thoughts and wicked are their ways. But the one "they want to kill," the one "they tried to seize," escapes their grasp, for indeed the Lord "watches over all His bones; not one of them shall be broken." And they cannot take hold of Him unless He so wills it; so, frustrated are their efforts "because His hour had not yet come." Even when His hour comes and He is delivered into the hands of the prince of darkness, still their violence will not touch Him; yet will He be protected by the Lord, as are all who follow Him. Yes, David sings of what he knows: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit He saves." And so, even in distress, even in death, the Lord is near to His chosen ones. The Lord shall ever be delivered from the grasp of those whose "wickedness blinded them." Jesus stands up in the temple and cries out: "I was sent by One who has the right to send… it is from Him I come." He declares openly that He is the Son of God, and for bringing such light the wicked who would hide their sins seek to destroy Him. But it shall indeed be proven that He is the Son of the Most High, that God is His Father. The "recompense of holiness" shall be witnessed by all eyes. In subjection to their evil plots, in dying upon the wood of the cross, and in His subsequent resurrection, Jesus shall utterly destroy all the power of wicked men and reveal the one true light that shines, that cannot be overcome by darkness. "We know where this man is from," they say, and so they are blind. For God the Father is not of this dark earth, and neither is His just Son. ******* O LORD, you care for those reviled by the world; make us as the Just One sent by you. YHWH, the wicked cannot know the origin of your Son for they are blind to you and your holy will. He is sent by you to suffer and die, but the plots of evil hearts shall not succeed, for His life is ever in your hand. From the dead He shall be raised and draw all just souls to you. Though the Just One suffer torture and humiliation for His purity, for the truth upon His soul; though those whom He reproaches for their sin seek to put Him to a shameful death; it is so, that none of His bones shall be broken, for you, O LORD, are close to the brokenhearted – those who are crushed in spirit you indeed save. But those who are proud and envious, those who cannot bear the censure of their thoughts, the chastisement of their evil ways… these, O LORD, shall be destroyed even as you draw your just ones whence your Son has come.

(Ex.32:7-14; Ps.106:4,19-23; Jn.5:31-47) "If you believed Moses you would then believe me, for it was about me that he wrote." As Moses wrote, so Jesus speaks. As Moses wrote, so Jesus is. The eternal life to which the Scriptures testify is now in our midst. The Word has come to life; the Law is now fulfilled. The "form [we] have never seen" now stands before us. The "voice [we] have never heard" now speaks to our ears. But do we "have His word abiding in our hearts"? Do we "believe the one [the Father] has sent"? "The works the Father has given [Jesus] to accomplish" "testify on [His] behalf." Let us exult in their light. The Lord "had done great deeds in the land of Egypt," "wondrous deeds" and "terrible things" in the sight of the Israelites through His servant Moses. But "they forgot the God who had saved them," "making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it" instead of the living God. They could not wait for the Word to come to them; their hearts were not set on Moses' return from the mountain with the Law of God. And so, for their lack of faith God "spoke of destroying them." The fire of wrath the Lord would have "blazed up against them to consume them" – such was the thought of His heart. But Moses "withstood Him in the breach." "Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people," he begs. And so, because of Moses' intercession, "the Lord relented in the punishment He had threatened on His people" for their lack of faith in Him. And now it is Jesus who stands in the breach made by our sins, preventing now our eternal punishment at the hands of a righteous God. For by all accounts we deserve death for our lack of faith; but in His grace the chasm between us and God He fills by stretching out His arms on the cross. Brothers and sisters, let us believe in His redemptive sacrifice. Let it never be said of us, "You do not have the love of God in your hearts," for such a state would mean the end of our days. But God has promised: "I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky." About this Moses writes, and the words speak of Jesus, He who is our salvation. Let us not forget the One who saves us in His love, "on whom we have set [our] hopes." ******* O LORD, as Moses once stood in the breach to save your people, now Jesus would return us to your love – let us listen to Him. YHWH, help us to believe in your Son and the work of love He accomplishes in our midst; in Him let us recognize your presence. Let us not turn from such true worship of you who are the only God to worship of the image of a grass-eating bullock or any of the images of this adulterous age. Let us have your love in our hearts, set ever upon your Word. In your Son is eternal life, LORD; in Him all Scripture is fulfilled. Of Him Moses has spoken, of Him you yourself have given testimony – let us have faith in His glory, which comes only from you. Let our hopes be set on the testimony He offers of your presence among us. O LORD, forgive our wayward hearts and minds, which turn so easily to the vain idols of this anxious world. Punish us not in your wrath but look upon your only Son, who has died for our sins.

(Jos.5:9a,10-12; Ps.34:2-7,9; 2Cor.5:17-21; Lk.15:1-3,11-32) "Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you." As the Israelites now realize their redemption from slavery in Egypt as they step into the Promised Land, so the prodigal son comes to his own redemption, his own release from slavery as a hired hand in a foreign land, as he returns to his father's house. Yes, as the Israelites "ate of the produce of the land" for the first time after the feast of Passover, so the prodigal son feasts on the "fattened calf" slaughtered for him by his merciful father. And the redemption of both is a redemption from sin. Today we hear quite clearly "the message of reconciliation" proclaimed throughout our readings. It is a call to all souls and a thanksgiving to God, "who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ." And will we come to the water and drink? Will we leave behind "the pods on which the swine fe[e]d" and come to His table to eat? Will we too come to our senses and, realizing the mercy the Father holds for all His children, return to the House of God and feast in the land to which He leads us? It seems certain, and simple, that we should join David in his song of praise, that we should heed him as he entreats our souls: "Glorify the Lord with me." For as "from all his distress He saved him," so from all our distress He saves us; and so nothing should fill our hearts but joy. "He was lost and has been found," the Lord declares in jubilation over every poor sinner who returns to His fold. And so, should we not respond gratefully to the appeal of Paul and all those entrusted with "the ministry of reconciliation" to indeed "be reconciled to God." In faith let us confess our sins and know the gracious blood of our Redeemer pouring upon our souls. "For our sake He made Him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." And now He waits on the road before His House for our return. Now He longs to open the doors of forgiveness and let us into His dwelling. Now He would see the sacrifice of His Son bear fruit, that we all might be as He is. Accept His removal of sin like a sword in the depths of your soul, and enter into His kingdom. ******* O LORD, let us eat of the yield of your Holy Land and become a new creation. YHWH, let us be reconciled to you who hold your arms open to receive us poor sinners. In your Son and in His sacrifice you offer us redemption from all our iniquity and invite us in to sup with you in your House, in your eternal kingdom. We are not worthy of such grace, but your love transcends our unworthiness. To the Promised Land the Israelites come, having left the bonds of Egypt behind. You gave them bread by your hand on their way to freedom, and now the fruit of that land they eat and find themselves well fed. The Prodigal Son is welcomed home by his compassionate father. The fattened calf is killed in celebration of his return, though half of his father's property he has squandered in his sin. O LORD, how can we fathom your love for us, your invitation to us to come back to your side despite our disobedience? May all men come to their senses and call out to you.

(Ex.3:1-8a,13-15; Ps.103:1-4,6-8,11; 1Cor.10:1-6,10-12; Lk.13:1-9) "The Lord secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed." Thus does the Lord God appear to Moses and call him to rescue the Israelites from the Egyptians. He has "witnessed the affliction of His people"; He has "heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers" and "know[s] well what they are suffering." And so, by the hand of Moses, He will lead them to "a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey." Yes, brothers and sisters, the Lord "has made known His ways to Moses"; His "kindness and compassion" He has revealed to His people. The great I AM (YHWH), He who is and who will always be, has come and shown Himself to His servant on the "holy ground" of Mount Horeb. In a "bush [that] is not burned" though flaming with fire, He opens Moses' eyes to His presence. And He tells him His glorious NAME, by which He is "to be remembered through all generations" – that it is He who is Life. And, of course, the life He brings is one of mercy and healing. Yet, though the Lord is certainly "merciful and gracious," He is also just; thus does Paul remind us that though all the Israelites "were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea" in their exodus from slavery, though all ate and drank from "the rock [that] was Christ… God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert." So the blessings they had gained by the mercy of our God, they soon lost by their own disobedience. And so could we all lose the grace of Christ at work in our lives if we "desire evil things, as they did." For God is merciful, but God is just, and will not have His kindness presumed upon. Thus does Jesus Himself also warn us, even as He warns the people who question Him this day that they are no better than those "whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices," that we are not without guilt ourselves. Thus does He proclaim, "If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did," as all sinners do. And thus does He warn us by parable that if we do not bear fruit in His name, we shall be cut down and thrown in the fire – for there is no wasted ground in the kingdom of God. If you cry out to Him, He will hear you, for it is He who "redeems your life from destruction" and your salvation is His desire. But justice insists that if you turn back to your sin, you choose to remove yourself from His loving arms. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Going Home" from Cleansing Human Frailty, fourth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, give us repentant hearts that we might not be removed from your sight but burn with your Spirit always. YHWH, let us not presume upon your mercy, for you have saved us but we remain in danger of falling again if we do not remember your NAME, if we do not keep in mind that you have made us and that you have saved us, you who are Life itself. If we forget your benefits, our iniquities shall return, and then how shall we stand in your presence? You alone are holy, LORD; you alone are beyond our tongues to describe. Let us be silent before you and remember the blessings you pour upon our souls. For though you are far beyond our ability to comprehend, though your ways far surpass our own, yet you look with compassion on our affliction and seek to rescue us from all ill. But we must remain humble at all times, lest our branches become barren. Ever we must bear fruit in your Name or we will be separated from your grace, from the surpassing light of your face. O LORD, lead us through this desert to your Promised Land.